The Portuguese Settlement was established in 1933 by two French missionaries, Father Alvaro Martins Coroado and Father Jean-Pierre Francois, with the help of the British colonial government. The goal was to provide a dedicated space for the Kristang people—descendants of Portuguese sailors who married local Malay women following the Portuguese conquest of Melaka in 1511. Today, it is a vibrant center for the preservation of Kristang culture, language (Papiá Kristang), and cuisine. The settlement is particularly famous for its lively celebrations of San Pedro (Feast of Saint Peter) and Christmas, during which the entire village is decorated with elaborate lights. It remains one of the few places in the world where this unique Luso-Malay heritage is actively practiced.