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This is a free walking tour of the colonial heritage sites in Malacca UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a self guided tour. Please feel free to print out and bring with you to explore Malacca. Click here for other free self-guided tours from AsiaExplorers.
Title: AE Malacca Colonial Heritage Tour
Venue: Malacca Town
Start/End Point: Malacca Town Square (aka Dutch Square)
Mode of transportation: by walking
Duration: 3 hours
The AE Malacca Colonial Heritage Tour is a do-it-yourself walking tour around the sites with a collection of colonial structures dating mostly from the Dutch era. The sights can be covered on a leisurely pace in about 3 hours. Only directional information in provided below. For details about each sight, click on the links where the sights are mentioned. Feel free to print out this tour and its accompanying information for your own personal, non-commercial use.
The tour starts at the Malacca Town Square.
1. Malacca Town Square
We begin our walking tour at the Malacca Town Square. There are many heritage monuments on or bordering this square.
Located within a stone's throw behind the Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower is the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fountain, the city theatre that was formerly the old City Hall of Kuala Lumpur. Diagonally in front of you is the new Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur City Hall), a white skyscraper.
4. Stadthuys
The biggest building on the Malacca Town Square, and in fact the largest Dutch colonial structure in Southeast Asia, is the Stadthuys, now a museum showcasing the colonial history in Malacca. (The Stadthuys today houses the History, Ethnography and Literature Museum). Enter and spend some time it. Look for the statue of Admiral Cheng Ho (Zhenghe) in the courtyard.
5. Christchurch
Separated by a small road (that's Jalan Gereja, now paved into a pedestrian walkway) from Stadthuys in Stadthuys, the oldest Dutch church in the Far East. Look for the ancient gravestones embedded on the floor of the church.
6. Youth Museum
The Malacca Youth Museum is housed in the former Malacca General Post Office building. Like many of the buildings on the Town Square, it is painted maroon (a colour initiated by the British, who introduced salmon pink, and darkened later.)
7. St Francis Xavier's Church
Leave the Town Square from the Youth Museum, and turn right along Jalan Laksamana (River Side). The Malacca River is just behind you, but hidden by the row of shophouses. After 5-10 minutes of walking, you will arrive at the imposing St Francis Xavier's Church
8. Dutch Graveyard
From St Francis Xavier's Church, retrace your route back to the Town Square, the take the small road (Jalan Gereja) between Christchurch and Stadthuys. At the next T-junction, take the right turn into Jalan Mahkamah and continue walking until you arrive at the Dutch Graveyard which is on your right.
9. Malacca Club
From the Dutch Graveyard, take the right turn, and walk past the replica of the Malacca Sultan's Palace, arriving shortly at the Malacca Club.
10. Porta de Santiago
A short distance from the Malacca Club, and within view, is Porta de Santiago, the sole remaining gateway into the old Portuguese Fort, often erroneously referred to as A Famosa.
11. St Paul's Church
Follow the flight of stairs behind Porta de Santiago to climb St Paul's hill. At the top is the ruins of St Paul's Church. Admire the Dutch-era gravestones leaned against the wall within the church. Outside St Paul's Church is the St Francis Xavier's Statue.
End of tour
From St Paul's Church, descend the hill, retracing your steps to the Porta de Santiago. Turn right and follow the curving road. You pass a few heritage buildings that have recently been converted into museums, including the UMNO Museum, Malacca Islamic Museum, Malacca Architecture Museum, among others. Stopover only if they are of particular interest to you. Otherwise proceed along the road, which takes you back to the Town Square, to end your walking tour.
Enjoy Malacca!
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