Rua Formosa is in the south-eastern area of the Parish of Sé. Running from Calçada de S. João to Rua do Campo, it is about 190 metres long and approximately 5 metres wide. It is a cement road running from the east to the west, parallel to Avenida da Praia Grande.
The earliest record of the street can be found in  “Boletim Oficial do Governo da Província de Macau e Timor” published on 26 July 1869. Originally it was called “近西街” (Kan Sai Street) in Chinese. On 27 August 1968, it was officially renamed “美麗街” (Beautiful Street) in Chinese consistent with the meaning of its Portuguese name “Rua Formosa”.
This street where many illustrious Macanese families used to live is close to S. Francisco Garden. Along the street, there are many three- or four-storey British-and-Portuguese-style villas. During the Anti-Japanese War, Escola Pui Tou moved to Macao. At the end of the war, Escola Pui Tou was officially established in Macao and its primary school section was located at no. 11 of Rua Formosa. Both Chai Tong Charity School and Escola Tong Nam used to be on this street. Both Hang Wo Company co-established by Lou Kau, Lou Gwong Yu and O Luk, and the Macao Office for the Preparation for the Guangdong-Macao Railway were once located on this street.
Today, most of the buildings along the street are five- or six-storey buildings, such as office buildings, residences, restaurants, and shops.