Malacca Day Tour from Kuala Lumpur

St Peter’s Church in Melaka is the oldest functioning Roman Catholic church in Malaysia. From 1511 until 1641, while under Portuguese rule, Malacca was described as a Christian town with a Roman Catholic church or chapel in every street. In 1618, there were 7,400 Christians in Malacca with 14 churches and two chapels. In 1641, Malacca fell to the Dutch who, being predominantly Protestant and anti-Catholic, set about demolishing Portuguese churches and persecuting the Catholic population of the city. Priests were forbidden to preach. What must the local Malay population here have thought about these two groups of Europeans who were so mean to each other despite being strangers in a foreign land so far from home, and both professing to belong to a superior culture? During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), Holland and Portugal found themselves fighting on the same side as part of the Grand Alliance. As a result the Dutch eased up on their persecution of Catholics in Malacca and a Dutch Catholic called Franz Amboer was given permission to donate land for the construction of St Peter’s Church which, as the date on the bell tower suggests, was finished around 1710.

The brick buildings are definitely a sight to see. They stand majestic as they look over the square and the largest structure; the Stadthuys. This building was built to be the town hall when the Dutch ruled and was used as the residence for the Governor at the time as well as his deputy. The Christ Church has been standing in this square since 1753 and this is the oldest protestant church in Malaysia. It definitely is a great church to visit; considering how antique and unique this church is. The beam of the church is its notable feature because each of its pillars is made from a single tree and they all stand over 15 m high. Also a highlight when in the Red Square is to visit the Malaysia Youth Museum and Art Gallery. Here, in this building that was built in the late 1700s is where you will find the best of art from the younger generation. The building however was designed to be the Dutch Administrative complex back in the day when the Dutch ruled the land but it was then renovated and used as a post office to serve the nearby villages before being transformed to become a museum.

"Porta de Santiago" redirects here. For the gate in Segovia, Spain, see Puerta de Santiago (Segovia). A Famosa (Malay: Kota A Famosa; "The Famous" in Portuguese) is a former Portuguese fortress located in Malacca, Malaysia. It is among the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Southeast Asia and the Far East. The Porta de Santiago, a small gate house, is the only part of the fortress which still remains today. The name is often mispronounced /eɪ/ Famosa, even among Malaysians, as though the Portuguese definite article a were the English letter A. A more authentic pronunciation would be /ɑː/ Famosa.

It was officially opened by Malaysia's King on 24th November 2006. It is constructed with modern Islamic design and craftsmanship. While the main dome is Middle Eastern in appearance, the four corner turrets are topped with typical Malaysian rooflines The facade of the mosque is decorated with stained glass windows with Islamic motifs. The minaret also has a striking and unusual design.

Jonker Street – the centre street of Chinatown – was once renowned for its antique shops. However over the years it has turned to clothing and crafts outlets as well as restaurants. The best part of Jonker Street is the night market on Fridays and Saturdays that sells everything from tasty treats to cheap keepsakes.