Malacca- Historical Places

Last weekend I visited Malacca, a coastal town located about 148 km (92 miles) south of KL. Malacca is a city rich in history and culture and also is well known for its shopping and food.



A Little History

Because of the importance of the Straits of Malacca as a trade route between the middle-east and the far east, Malacca (Melaka in Malay) was once the center of a great trading empire. Malacca was founded in the 1390s by Parameswara, a prince from Sumatra. Over the next 100 years or so Malacca flourished as a trading port and the Sultan of Malacca ruled over much of the peninsula and parts of Sumatra as well. Malacca holds an important place in Malaysian history because many of the important characteristics of Malay government and society, including the import of Islam, were formed.

In 1511, the Portugeuese took over Malacca and the Malaccan government fled farther south in the peninsula. The Portuguese build a fort, A Famosa, to help them control the town. Unforutnately, for the Portuguese, controlling the town did not mean controlling trade in the region and Malacca dropped in importance as a shipping port during the Portuguese reign. In 1641 the Dutch forced the Portuguese out of Malacca and the Dutch ruled until the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 awarded Malacca to the British.

In 2008 Malacca was selected as a World Heritage Site and it remains a popular tourist destination. As an American I know that I have a rather truncated view of world history. It was cool to visit a center of civilization that existed well before Columbus even thought of sailing the ocean blue.

A Formosa

All that remains of the Portuguese fort, A Famosa, is the gate.




Christ Church

Christ Church, bult in 1753, by the Dutch.



Francis Xavier Church

Francis Xavier Church, built in 1849 by the British.


St. Francis Xavier known as the "Apostle of the East" for his missionary work in Southeast Asia.