Melaka Historic City

Melaka rose in the 15th century as the seat of a Malay sultanate that controlled trade through the Straits of Malacca. In 1511 a Portuguese fleet under Afonso de Albuquerque captured the city and built the A Famosa fortress around the hill by the sea. The Dutch took Melaka in 1641 and governed it for more than 150 years, adding the Stadthuys as the governor's office and Christ Church, completed in 1753.

The British later took control and ordered most of the fortress demolished in the early 19th century; Sir Stamford Raffles is credited with helping save the Porta de Santiago gate that survives today. In 2008 UNESCO inscribed Melaka with George Town as the Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca, citing government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications that reflect the sultanate and the Portuguese and Dutch periods.

Melaka's character comes from its communities: Malay families, Chinese Peranakan (Baba Nyonya) households, the Portuguese-descended Kristang community and Indian Muslims all left their mark on its food and festivals. Local specialities include Nyonya dishes, satay celup and chicken rice balls, and Malay food is easy to find around the town. On weekends the old town fills with domestic visitors, which gives the night market much of its energy.