Galle, 116km (74 miles) south of Colombo, on the southwest corner of the island, is the largest town in the region. Until the British conquest it was the most important port on the island of Sri Lanka, appearing in European histories as early as AD545.By the time of the great Arab traveler and writer lbn Batuta, who landed here in the 13th century, it was firmly established as an entrepot for commerce between Sri Lanka and the Arab world.
Conquered by the Portuguese in 1505, then by the Dutch in 1640, the town was extensively fortified and the lines of its fortifications - added to by the British through to World War II - can be clearly seen. These centuries-old ramparts and bastions are being excavated and conserved, and a 3km (2-mile) stretch has already been restored.
One of the best preserved colonial-era cities in Southeast Asia, Galle has been declared a World Heritage City and the Sri Lankan government's department of archaeology has taken on the Herculean task of restoring as much as possible of the old part of the city to pristine condition.
Standing on a peninsula with a naturally sheltered anchorage on its east side, Galle has both a fine harbour and excellent natural defences. Inside its ring of ramparts are numerous buildings dating from the Dutch era, including the Old Dutch Government House (now the offices of a shipping company), the Governor's House (now a hotel), and the Groote Kerk (Great Church), still in use by worshippers.
