Galle
Located on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, Galle is a port town home to the largest fortress erected by Europeans in Asia. A remarkable 400-year-old construction built by the Dutch and Portuguese over a number of centuries, Galle Fort (Rampart St) is one of Sri Lanka’s World Heritage sites. Unlike many such locations, Galle remains a bustling community where people still live and work. The town is becoming a tourist hotspot and for good reason. The art scene is on the rise and the place teems with galleries and workshops, along with cafés and restaurants. There are interesting historical buildings aside from the fort, such as Sri Lanka’s oldest lighthouse (Rampart St; pictured) and the 18th century Dutch Reformed Church (Church St), which are both worth a visit. Other major places to hit up are the coastal ramparts and gun embankments, which offer spectacular views across the ocean, the Maritime Archeology Museum (Queens St) and the Historical Mansion Museum (31-39 Leyn Baan St), a renovated colonial house that features a collection of antiques, weapons, jewellery and craftsmen at work.