A flourishing port city and magnet for the spice trade since the 15th century, Kochi (Cochin) proudly bears its distinct international influence and local Keralan culture. Chinese and Arab trade industries as well as British, Dutch, and Portuguese colonialism have left their marks here, including in the Victorian and colonial architecture and Catholic churches visible around the city. However, local Keralan cuisine and a contemporary cafe and gallery scene give the city a fresh, cosmopolitan vibe. Among the most popular things to do in Kochi is a visit to the historic Jewish neighborhood, which still includes a 16th-century synagogue and shops that sell the spices and embroidery traded by this community for centuries. A trip to Kochi should also include walks along the beach, where fishers bring in the day's catch in boats and sculptural Chinese fishing nets, and the sunset lights up the Arabian Sea.