A'Famosa, Melaka Overview

A former Portuguese Fortress, A Famosa is among the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Southeast Asia. One of Malacca's famous sightseeing spots, the only remaining part of the fortress is a small gate house, known as Porta de Santiago.

A Famosa ruins is a wonderful spot for photography lovers, who can capture some stunning images of this crumbling structure. History lovers would be interested to note that A'Famosa was once home to an entire lot of the Portuguese administrative officials.

Structure of A Famosa Fort

At the time of its construction, A’Famosa acted as the residence of the entire Portuguese administration. It consisted of long ramparts and four major towers. One was a four-story keep, the others held an ammunition's storage room, the residence of the captain, and an officers' quarters. The village was mostly clustered within the fortress walls in townhouses. In 1586, extensions were added to the fort to accommodate the expanding population.

What remains of the once-mighty fortress is merely a small gate that was a part of the fortress, called Porta de Santiago, for that was all Sir Raffles was able to protect. However, recent archaeological findings have uncovered other structures, namely the Bastion Middleburg that is believed to have been constructed by the Dutch, and a watchtower named Santiago Bastion.

How to Reach A Famosa

The A’Famosa is conveniently located right off the North-South Highway. From Kuala Lumpur, A’Famosa is about an hour’s drive away, and also just a two-hour drive away from Singapore, making it an extremely popular destination among Singaporeans. For those who wish to travel by rail, the site is located a mere ten minutes away from the Tampin Railway Station.