Soya village, located on the mountains about 4 km from Ambon city, was once the central spot of the oldest independent kingdom in Ambon Island, up to the arrival of Portuguese and Dutch occupiers. It has some magnificent historical sites such as the Old Church (built in the 17th century by the Portuguese), the former royal house of the king, and the 'ancient crock' ('tempayan tua' in Ambonese-Malay dialect) at the top of mount Sirimau, said to never run out of water even in dry seasons, and considered sacred by the locals.