GALLE

GALLE

Galle Sri Lanka Important port Ancient fortified city Spice Route Portuguese Dutch colony Fairway Galle Literature festival Mask museum Sri Lanka Acme voyages

Galle is a beautiful and ancient fortified city, in the southwest of Sri Lanka. It is one of the oldest settlements in South Asia, and dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. It’s always been an important port but it gained more prominence during the peak of the spice trade and was an important trading post on the Spice Route. The Portuguese built the original fortifications but it was later, during the Dutch rule in Sri Lanka, that there was a considerable expansion and Galle gained it’s prominence. Even today, remnants of both the Dutch and Portuguese fortifications and old buildings remain for tourists to explore. With an iconic lighthouse at one end, the rest of the fortifies citadel is full of narrow streets filled with colourful cafes, galleries, studios and boutiques. There’s a delightful laid back beach vibe to the city, that blows in with the breeze from the Indian Ocean.

If you are culturally oriented, visit Galle in January for the Fairway Galle Literature Festival. This cultural extravaganza is an important international event and a melting pot for artists, writers, musicians and more. Galle is also an excellent jumping off spot to explore Sri Lanka’s “Low Country” region. From the ethnic Mask Museum to Batik workshops, snorkeling and diving, turtle hatcheries and whale watching and of course, the gorgeous beaches that Sri Lanka is so famous for, it’s all just a short distance away, easily reachable in no time at all.

Are you ready to plan your Galle getaway?