A'Famosa

A'Famosa in Malacca can refer to either one of two places; the original A'Famosa building is a large fortress that sits in the historical town center of Melaka at the base of St Paul's Hill, of which only the gate (called Porta de Santiago) remains. The other A'Famosa is a large family-themed resort from which it derives the name, being located in Alor Gajah. The A'Famosa structure was once a famous castle in ancient times built by the Portuguese forces which conquered Malacca. It later fell into the hands of the Dutch, and much later, the British, who destroyed most of it except for the main gate. Today, it is the only piece left standing for visitors and tourists to take picture of.

The A'Famosa Resort, on the other hand, is a sprawling resort ground in Alor Gajah that offers wide range of attractions and activities catered mostly for children. On weekends, this resort is a popular destination for families from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore who come to enjoy a short recreational holiday. The resort has within its grounds a water park, animal zoo (which doubles up as a safari tour), golf course, cowboy town, theatre and a collection of dining outlets. A carnival with fire eaters, trained animals and acrobats takes place during the weekends at night to impress guests who have booked a hotel package with the resort.