The Portuguese and Dutch colonial legacy in Sri Lanka is seen in the architectural monuments still remaining in the coastal areas of the Island. The most famous monuments are in the Galle, in the south and in Negambo. As Negambo a mainly a Catholic area, buildings and its architecture, in the cathedrals and churches are well preserved. These in Negambo can be visited by staying in a Negambo Resort hotel like Club Hotel Dolphin a centrally situated luxury hotel.
Among the architectural monument is the Negombo Fort, built by Portuguese in 1500 in a pentagonal pattern, was destroyed by Dutch and over its ruins built a fort of square pattern surrounded by motes and a drawbridge. On the land side was the town with its rectangular streets. Presently the ruins of the fort with brick wall are still there with clock tower built by British. The court building and the Anglican Church are on two bastions of the fort, while, on the central court is the present Prisons, inside it are buildings and a barrel vaulted structure of Dutch architecture. Also at Kalpitiya north of Negambo is a five bastion Dutch fort built in 1667 with remains of a Portuguse Jesuit church inside it is in well preserved state.
Negombo has ancestral houses and buildings of Dutch architecture. Among Portuguese-era Roman Catholic churches found in Negambo are St. Mary’s Church, The Katuwapitiya Church, Sea Street Church, Saint Stephen’s Church, Negombo, and the Grand Street Church. These are all built in Gothic Architectural style in the shape of a cross with main hall and two smaller halls with high porches and decorated pillars.While, the canal built by Dutch is roughly one hundred kilometres long and is still in use today.
Thus, Negambo is the place to explore the 17th century Dutch and Portuguese architectural monuments closer to Colombo.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
