A Fammosa (melaka)

Kota A' famosa

You can’t say you have been to Malacca if you have not visited the A’ Famosa. One of the most famous structures in Malacca and definitely one of the oldest surviving examples of European architecture in Asia, A’ Famosa still manages to inspire awe in the visitor looking at its remains.

It was formerly a mighty fortress known as Porta de Santiago, but mere remnants of its splendid have survived down through the years. Looking old but still imposing, its gate has survived much punishment over the last five centuries.
The history of the A’ Famosa dates all the way back to 1511 when Alfonso de Albuquerque and the Portuguese fleet under his command arrived at the shores of Malacca. After defeating the locals, he quickly built a fortress near the sea to safeguard his hold on the land.
This fortress was initially made up of four major towers and bulwarks. Each of the towers held a different purpose – one is for the captain’s residence, another for the officers, while a third is for ammunition and the last is a keep.
However, the Portuguese were not the only owners of the fort as it changed hands several times over the centuries. The fort was later taken over by the Dutch when the Portuguese were overcome. It was also given a facelift and the logo “ANNO 1670” was inscribed on the arch of the gate.
In the early 19th century, the fortress was handed over to the British who decided to destroy it. This destruction came about in the year 1806; all was demolished save for a small part, which was saved by Sir Stamford Raffles who held a strong passion for history.
What you now see is the last bit of the once-proud fortress. As mentioned above, although all this took place many years ago, you cannot help but feel the rich history of this relic as you stand before it.