Portuguese Settlement

Here is where the descendants of the Portuguese who conquered Malacca in 1511 live today. The settlement, located just southeast of the city centre, consists of tidy rows of mostly wooden houses leading up to the Portuguese Square (Malay Medan Portugis) and Hotel Lisbon (sorry, unlike its Macau namesake, there is no casino here) on the waterfront. The people here may look Malay but peer into their houses and you"ll see the characteristic altar with status of Jesus and Mary perched high on their walls. Inferring strong affinity to Portugal, this place has been called Mini Lisbon. Located only 5km from the Melaka Town at Ujong Pasir, Melaka. There are 1,500 people from 116 families who live in the Portuguese Settlement, established in 1930. This settlement encompasses 13 acres with eight acres occupied by dwellings, the rest being taken up by a school, playing field and children playground. There is an unique survival of 16th century Portugal kept alive through language, customs, songs and dance forms.