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Photo: Arch at the Portuguese settlement
Portuguese Square, also
known as Medan Portugis, is an amazing tourist
attraction in Melaka whereby it was built in the late
1980s and this place was designed after a typical Portuguese
mercado. A French missionary in the 1920s was the first
person to suggest the idea of the settlement to the
British colonial government but the project was not
completed until much later in the future. Perhaps the right phase to
infer strong affinity to Portugal would be calling this
place 'Mini
Lisbon'.
Located within the Portuguese Settlement, the
square is the culmination of Portuguese culture in its
full splendor and colors where descendants of the
Portuguese and Malay intermarriages hundreds of years
ago and subsequently preserve their own culture and
lifestyle. The square is being surrounded by a typical
Portuguese fishing village seen only in Melaka. It is also a historical area
in Malacca and it is being preserved under the heritage
list. Tourists coming here will have the opportunity to
savor traditional Portuguese food and also witness the
colorful cultural dances by the Eurasian community here.
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