Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions.Although Galle as a city is the ninth largest in Sri Lanka (with a population of 100,000), almost all of these people live outside the fortified walls of the Old Town.The St. Mary’s Cathedral, founded by Jesuit priests, the Dutch Reformed Church, the Meera Mosque, the old Dutch Hospital Building (now turned into shops), St Aloysius College Building, the Court Building, the Lighthouse, and the Walls of the Fort are just a few of the most interesting buildings. The square in front of the Court Building has two old Banyan trees with humongous trunks like I’ve never seen before and then there are a myriad of narrow streets.
