Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca
The historic towns of Malacca and Georgetown, on the Straits of Malacca, have developed trade and cultural exchange between the East and the West for more than 500 years. Asian and European influences have endowed these towns with a unique multicultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. Malacca’s government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications showcase the early stages of this history, originating from the Malay Sultanate in the 15th century and the Portuguese and Dutch periods beginning in the early 16th century. Georgetown features residential and commercial buildings that represent the British era in the late 18th century. The two towns form a unique architectural and cultural townscape unmatched anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.