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The Stadthuys
Christ Church
Portuguese Square
St. Francis Xavier Church
A Famosa
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The
Stadthuys (Town Hall) was completed in the 1650s and functioned as the
official residence of Dutch Governors and their officers. The edifice
is a fine example of Dutch architecture and is the oldest standing Dutch
building in the orient. This building, perhaps the best preserved of the
colonial structures, now houses the Malacca Historic and Ethnography Museum.
Its exhibits trace the city's history from the time of the ancient Malay
kingdoms through Portuguese, Dutch, and British occupation.
Built
in 1753, this testimony to Dutch architectural ingenuity remains standing
as it has always been. Take note of the church's handmade pews. The ceiling
beams were shaped from a single tree and held together without a single
nail! There is also a brass bible dating back to 1759 and believed to
contain scriptures from the first verse of St. John. Furthermore, there
is a tombstone written in Armenian and "Last Supper" in glazed titles.
Perhaps
the right phrase to infer strong affinity to Portugal would be "Mini Lisbon".
Located within the Portuguese Settlement, the square is the culmination
of Portuguese culture in its full splendor and colors.
Known
as the "Apostle of the East", this church was built by a Frenchman in
1849. It is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier who is well-remembered for
his missionary work in spreading Catholicism to Southeast Asia in the
16th Century.
After
the Portuguese captured the city, they built a fortress to defend their
position and called it A' Famosa. All that remains of it now is the entrance.
The fortress itself suffered severe damages during the Dutch invasion.
The Dutch later went about destroying remains of the walls. Hence, the
visitor today sees only the entrance to what was once an imposing structure
that defended the city from attacks.