Malaysia . Selangor . Malacca

Dubbed the Historic State, Melaka is located in the southern part of peninsular Malaysia, about 150km south of Kuala Lumpur and 250km from Johor Bahru.

It is well-known for the history of the Malay sultanate of Melaka, which was established around 600 years ago. During the 16th century, Melaka became a major regional commercial port, making it a much-sought-after possession for the world’s most powerful empires.

A short walk from Jonker Street is the iconic Red Square, known also as Stadthuys, an old Dutch spelling for the term ‘city hall’. One of the most photographed buildings in Melaka, it stands adjacent to the majestic Christ Church Melaka, both buildings washed in red.

Fort A Famosa: Constructed by the Portuguese in 1511, it suffered severe structural damage during the Dutch invasion. The plan by the British to destroy it was aborted as a result of the intervention of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1808.

St. John's Fort: Reconstructed by the Dutch in the third quarter of the 18th century, the cannons in this fort point inland because at that time, the threat to Malacca was mainly from inland rather than the sea.

St. Peter's Church: Constructed in 1710 under the Dutch administration, the church is the oldest Catholic church in Malaysia. Its fa�ade and decorative embellishment is a mix of both eastern and western architecture. Its bell was delivered from Goa in 1608.

St. Paul's Church: Constructed by the Portuguese captain, Duarte Coelho, this church was named "Our Lady of The Hill", but was later turned into a burial ground by the Dutch for their noble dead, and renamed "St. Paul's Church". Currently the church is part of the Malaccan Museums Complex. The body of St. Francis Xavier was interred here temporarily before it was taken to Goa, India.

Christ Church: Constructed in 1753, the structure reflects original Dutch architecture. The building houses hand-crafted church benches, jointless ceiling skylights, a copper replica of the Bible, a headstone written in the Armenian language, and a replica of "The Last Supper".

Francis Xavier Church: This Gothic church was built by a French priest, Rev. Fabre, in 1849, to commemorate St. Francis Xavier who is also known as the "Apostle of the East". St. Francis Xavier is credited for his Catholic missionary work in Southeast Asia during the 16th century.