Semarang Overview
(oleh: Administrator - on: Oct 18, 2007 for country-city: Indonesia-Semarang)
With the famous harbor from the Dutch age, Semarang is an ideal city as the gate for another city in central java. There are many shipping activities taken place in Pelabuhan Tanjung Mas Semarang as a result of picking goods to be sent to other cities such as to Surabaya, Solo and Yogyakarta. It is no doubt that lately Semarang is well known as a Transit City than tourism. In fact, Semarang has some unique things which can be enjoyed and some tourism objects that nice to be visited. As a capital city of central Java, Semarang is also known as industrial center, trade, and government city; handling at least thirty-four city and its districts. Therefore, Semarang is correctly having many complete facilities and better than other cities in Central Java.
Semarang treats a unique geological shape; up and down land, so it is divided into two weathers. The hot weather happened in the sea area (down land), but the cold weather existed in the up land (around the Ungaran mount). Nowadays, Semarang is not only known as an industrial or business city, but also has some interesting places. There is Tugu Muda, built to remind us to the heroic Indonesian soldiers against Japanese invaders. Another one is Gereja Blenduk, left by Dutch, and many more. To serve the tourist needs, Semarang has prepared a lot of hotels, from the cheap to the expensive. Easy and cozy transportation, also travel bureau that ready to guide the tourists visiting Semarang. When visiting Semarang, do not leave the special food or snack. There are Bandeng Presto and Wingko Babat. There are few historical buildings as well as others areas in Semarang to be visited.
Gereja Blenduk or Blenduk Church
Gereja Immanuel is located in Kota Lama. It is commonly different with another building in Kota Lama that fencing the road and giving the special structure. This Neo-Classic style is actually performed as a contras building; the structure is protrude. The location is frontal across Jalan Suari, which was used to be named Kerk Straat (Jalan Gereja). Gereja Blenduk has changed its shape many times. At the beginning, Gereja was built in 1753, has the shape of “Rumah Panggung Jawa”; appropriate with Java architecture. In the next seven years, there were a big rebuilt. In 1894, the bu1ding was rebuilt by H.P.A. de Wilde and W.Westmas, with two towers and a dome. That shape is still hanging on until today.
Kota Lama
According to its history, from around eighteenth century, Semarang has one area and been the trade center city. The area is called Kawasan Kota Lama. It is also called OUTSTADT. It covers 31 hectares. Geographically, Kawasan Kota Lama is separated with areas around, therefore it is seemed like an independent city; "LITTLE NETHERLAND".
Kawasan Kota Lama Semarang is silent witness of Indonesian history during the Dutch’s colonial for more than two century, and it is located beside the economic area in Semarang. Kota Lama Semarang is the historical area with its ancient buildings that has potential source to be learned and enjoyed as the conservative for tourism.
Simpang Lima
At the grow ness of its function as a town square, Simpang Lima was built as suggested by the first President of Indonesia who wanted Semarang’s town square as the replacement of Kanjengan. The town square belongs to Semarang under Adipati Semarang government has change in function to be the center of market. Simpang Lima is used to be the ceremonial place, but it has been changed as a place of certain show, exhibition and recreation. There are many kind of foods sold at the sidewalk around the town square.
Meanwhile, various souvenirs, stationeries, and also households are sold there. As the center of Semarang city, Simpang Lima may also be said as the center of festivity. It is clear enough, there are some market-centers, such as Citraland, Simpang Lima Plaza, Gajahmada Plaza, dan some stars hotels, like Hotel Ciputra and Hotel Horison. Besides, there is a huge mosque called Masjid Baiturrahman for Semarang Moslems people hold the spiritual activities. Other Semarang Hotels include Grand Candi Hotel, and Hotel Santika Premier Semarang.
Tugumuda
Tugumuda is a memorial pillar supported by five sides of pillar; base, body and head. There is such a relief at the body of pillar. The whole of pillar is made of stone. To make strong impress of the pillar, there are decorated pool and park around the pillar. It is located near to Lawang Sewu, Kantor BDNI, Rumah Dinas Gubernur Jateng, Museum Manggala Bakti and Katedral. Tugumuda was designed by Salim, and then the relief of the pillar has done by an artist Hendro. The first stone laid on 20 Mei 1953 by Governor of Central Java, Boediono.
Article by Ade Cori
