A Famosa
A Famosa, or "The Famous" in Portuguese, is among the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia. Once part of a mighty fortress, this tiny gate (called the Porta de Santiago) is all that is left of a once-mighty fortress. In 1511 a Portuguese fleet arrived under the command of Alfonso de Albequerque. His forces attacked and successfully defeated the armies of the native Sultanate. Moving quickly to consolidate his gains, Albequerque had the fortress built around a natural hill near the sea. Albequerque believed that Melaka would become an important port linking Portugal to the spice trade from China.
The fortress once
consisted of long ramparts and four major towers. One was a four-story keep,
while the others held an ammunition storage room, the residence of the captain,
and an officers' quarters. Most of the village clustered in town houses inside
the fortress walls. As Malacca's population expanded it outgrew the original
fort and extensions were added around 1586.
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