Macau, consists of the Macau Peninsula (attached to mainland China) and the small islands of Taipa and Coloane; all connected by bridge or causeway. Once a simple fishing village, it was colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, and became the first European settlement in the Far East. In the middle of its skyscrapers and modern facade sits the Historic Center of Macau, a "World Heritage Site," that includes several fortresses, an ancient palace, historic buildings and churches, monuments and friendly urban squares. Combine all of that with a wide variety of nitelife options, restaurants and casinos, and you've got a major tourist attraction that's growing in popularity.