Galle Fort

Galle has long been Sri Lanka’s foremost city in the southern province, and was an international harbor frequented by Arab and Chinese traders until the 19th century. Like many of the key settlements in Sri Lanka, control of ancient Galle passed hands from the Portuguese to the Dutch to the British settlers. Many of the colonial era buildings present in Galle were erected during this period, giving Galle its timeless appearance. The Galle Fort was built by the Dutch over 400 years ago, and has undergone several minor refurbishments since then, creating an interesting mix of South Asian culture and European architecture.