The historical state of Malacca offers many landmarks and buildings that are remnants of a glorious era in the early centuries, from the reign of Sultans to the colonisation of European powers. Visitors and tourists can discover and explore Melaka's rich history and origins through these unique attractions that include forts, buildings, ruins and graves.
A' Famosa (Porta de Santiago)
Also known as Kota A' Famosa, which means 'The Famous' in Portuguese, this ancient fort at the base of St Paul's Hill, Bandar Hilir, is intricately tied with Malacca's history and colonial era. It was in 1511 that the first colonial forces under the Portuguese arrived in Melaka. Quickly conquering the state and sending the Sultan fleeing, their commander Alfonso de Albuquerque built this fortress to secure their position and protect the port in Malacca.
Later, it changed hands to Dutch forces in 1641 and then given to the British for safekeeping during the Napoleonic wars. The British, wanting to save on its upkeep and sabotage it before returning the fort at the end of the wars, set about to destroy it. The timely arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1810, a British official and history buff, saved some remnants of the fort from total destruction, including its landmark gate, called the Porta de Santiago. When once the fort was a massive structure with imposing walls and towers, the A' Famosa now only has its small gate standing and foundation stones. Today, the fort has become turned into an important tourist attraction in Malacca, offering visitors a glimpse of its colonial era. Some parts of its walls have even been reconstructed! Inside the fort, there are landscaped gardens, cannons and ruins for visitors to explore and take photographs.
Stadthuys
The Stadthuys is believed to be the oldest European building in Southeast Asia. It was established by the Dutch in 1650 as a civic center for Melaka and official residence for the governor and his officials, once they took control of the state. Today, the Stadthuys has become an important landmark and tourist icon for Malacca, being located in the oldest part of town, Jalan Kota. The area where the Stadthuys resides is also called Dutch Square.
The Stadthuys was built after the original Stadthuys, or Town Hall, in Hoorn, Netherlands. The large complex provides visitors a look at ancient 15th Century European design, evident in its solid doors, louvred windows and Frisian architecture. Inside, thick wooden beams, large floor tiles and a high ceiling provide an imposing effect. Originally white, the building was painted salmon pink (which is why locals also call it 'Red Square) by the British. In present age, it was used by the state government as an administrative building before it was converted into a tourist attraction. The Stadthuys now houses the several museums inside, related to history and ethnography, literature, colonial rule and cultures found in Malacca. In the square facing the building, there is also the Malacca Clock Tower, built in 1886 by Chinese businessman Tan Beng Swee, and Queen Victoria's Fountain, built in 1904 to celebrate the queen's coronation. The square is also a popular place for photos and to take trishaw rides to explore and sight see old Malacca Town.
St Paul's Church Ruins
St Paul's Church was built on the peak of St Paul's Hill, overlooking the A' Famosa Fort below and providing visitors with a panoramic view of the Malaccan landscape. This ancient church was built in 1521, by a Portuguese captain who originally named it 'Our Lady of the Hill'. It was renamed after the Dutch took over and later used by the British as a storage area for gunpowder.
Over time and disuse, the church fell into ruins, though much of the structure and walls remain intact. Visitors can see a statue of St Francis Xavier (with a hand missing) at the front while inside are large tombstones, with latin inscriptions, leaning against the walls along with the merry music of buskers. St Francis Xavier's body was inferred here for a period before being brought to Goa.
Bukit China
Bukit Cina, which means 'China Hill', was the original settlement area of the first Chinese to Malacca, through the marriage of Hang Li Po to a Sultan, bringing with her a large entourage of people. They later abandoned it during the Portuguese occupation and it became a grave yard for the Chinese in Melaka over time. Today, it is known as the largest traditional Chinese burial ground outside of China, at 25 hectares in size and with over 12,500 graves, some dating back to the 14th Century. Visitors and tourists can also visit Hang Li Po's Well at the base of the hill, which was dug in 1459 and reputed to have never once dried up. It is used as a wishing well today.
Christ Church
The Christ Church was built in 1753 by the Dutch and is still functioning as a place of worship till this day. The building with all its fine European architecture has been preserved well over the centuries. When the British took over Malacca, they made it an Anglican church and added a bell tower along with a weathercock. Located next to the Stadthuys, the Christ Church is an unmistakable landmark with its bold pink facade and vintage design. Inside the church, visitors and tourists can admire the various design elements, such as the tombstones with Armenian engravings encased into the flooring, antique pews which have never been replaced, shiny tiles that depict the Last Supper painting and brass Bible. The beams of the church have been carved from a single tree, with no joints, a testament to its fine construction.
St John's Fort
The St John's Fort was originally a private Portuguese chapel constructed in the early 18th Century. It is a small fort located on top of a hill in Jalan Hujung Pasir. The peak gives a fantastic viewing point for visitors to see the landscape of Malacca, especially sunsets. A series of broad steps lead up to the fort, where there are cannons lying around the walls that face inland, rather than towards the sea. This was because the fort was used to defend against mainland attacks, as the Portuguese had robbed the Sultan and his forces of Melaka, and they were pressing from that direction.
St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church is the oldest Catholic church in the country, having been built by the Dutch in 1710 during their occupation. The church still functions to this day, being the venue of the annual San Pedro's Feast, which is a festival for the Portuguese community to celebrate their patron saint for fishermen. The church is a hallmark of fine architecture which blends eastern and European design. One of its bells was made in 1608, originating from Goa.
Cemeteries
There are several colonial cemeteries for visitors and tourists with a morbid fascination for history to look at in Malacca. The Dutch Cemetery was established towards the end of the 17th Century, at the base of St Paul's Hill, near where the A' Famosa is located. While being a Dutch cemetery that's even recognised as a national monument under law, it contains only 5 Dutch graves, the other 33 belonging to the British. This was because the British took control over Melaka from the Dutch and subsequently, decided to use it as early as 1818. Nearby, there is also a dedicated British Cemetery, which has the graves of British soldiers killed in the skirmish with Dol Said and his forces over tax impositions in a district called Naning during that time.
Tombs
There are also many tombs or mausoleums in Malacca that commemorate famous figures in Malaccan history. Most famous of these tombs belong to Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat and Hang Kasturi, warriors in the Sultan's court in ancient times and Tun Teja, a princess who was a daughter of a ruler in nearby Pahang State.
