Sights in Galle
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The Fort Walls
One of the most pleasant strolls you can take in town is the circuit of the Fort walls at dusk. As the daytime heat fades away, you can walk almost the complete circuit of the Fort along the top of the wall in an easy hour or two. You’ll be in the company of lots of locals, shyly courting couples and plenty of kids diving into the protected waters.
The Main Gate in the northern stretch of the wall is a comparatively recent addition – it was built by the British in 1873 to handle the heavier flow of traffic into the old town. This part of the wall, the most heavily fortified because it faced the land, was originally built with a moat by the Portuguese, and was then subst…
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Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church, near the Amangalla Hotel, was originally built in 1640, but the present building dates from 1752 to 1755. Its floor is paved with gravestones from the old Dutch cemetery (the oldest dates from 1662); the friendly caretaker will tell you where remains are held in the walls and under the floor. The organ from 1760 still sits in the building and the impressive pulpit, made from calamander wood from Malaysia, is an interesting piece. Services are held each Sunday.
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Historical Mansion
If you think you’ve got a lot of clutter filling up the shelves at home, then just wait until you get a load of the Historical Mansion, which is the private collection of one serious hoarding squirrel. Set in a well-restored Dutch house, it’s not really a museum, as many of the exhibits have price tags. It’s a junkyard of colonial artefacts, including collections of antique typewriters, VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie) china, spectacles and jewellery. There’s also a gem shop.
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National Museum
The National Museum is housed in an old Dutch building near the Main Gate. The museum, with just a little more effort, would be superb; however, as it is, it has sad displays of traditional masks, information on the lace-making process, a few examples of the luxury items that once passed through the port, and religious items, including a relic casket.
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National Maritime Museum
Entered via the Old Gate, the National Maritime Museum was closed for renovations at the time of research but will be open by the time you read this. Word is that it will be a very different creature from the fusty old dear of before.
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