A’Famosa is more than just quick photo stop opportunity for tourists. Built in 1511, the settlement used to sprawl across a whole hillside but now only a lone gate (Porta de Santiago) remains. One of the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia; it is set beside the Istana ke Sultanan on Jalan Kota.
A’Famosa is perhaps Malacca’s best known sightseeing spot. Originally constructed by Alfonso de Albuquerque (who led the Portuguese invasion on the Malacca Sultanate), the remains of the fort is now a crumbling whitewashed gatehouse and is located downhill from St. Paul’s Church.
Christ Church built by the Dutch when they took possession of Malacca from the Portuguese, it’s one of Malacca’s most defining structures. Situated along Jalan Gereja (also known as Church Street) it is an instantly recognizable brick-red building with a huge white cross at the top. Sitting opposite the Stadhuys, Christ Church was built in 1753 to celebrate a century of Dutch occupation. The interior of the cathedral has 200 year-old handmade pews, decorative fanlights and plaques that honour Dutch soldiers and locals.
Coral Wonderland Malacca is the Malaysia’s first coral park, hosting over 1,000 species of marine fish and corals. Opened in 2011, the coral park is home to Asia’s longest touch pool, and the country’s longest coral aquarium, giving you a chance for in-depth look on loved marine life. It is situated at level 4 of the conveniently-located Dataran Pahlawan shopping mall, so parking (and also lunch afterwards) isn’t a problem if you’re planning a family day out.
Filled with interesting and colourful marine creatures such as clown fish and seahorses, Coral Wonderland is divided into nine separate sections with each focusing on a species or a theme, with corresponding activities for both adults and kids to enjoy. The shark pool, for example, lets you get up close with one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures so that you can personally observe its interesting features, such as its blacktip fins and puckered mouths.
Cheng Ho’s Cultural Museum is a gallery housing exhibits about Chinese Ming Dynasty admiral, Cheng Ho (Zheng He). In a warehouse to the north of the Melaka River, the gallery has exhibits on the admiral’s life.
Opened in 2006, it is believed that the museum sits on the site of Guan Chang, a warehouse built by Cheng Ho about 600 years ago to temporarily store goods he acquired during his travels. Flanking the front entrance of the museum are a drum and a bell tower.
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