Going to Galle, Sri Lanka: The Fortress Hotel and Spa

The historic seaport of Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts a marvelous mélange of European and Southeast Asian architectural traditions. (The famous Galle fort, first built by the Portuguese, was then modified by the Dutch in the 17th century.) For centuries, the ancient city of Galle was at the crossroads of major worldwide trade routes, the strategic port en route from Arabia to the Orient. After the devastation caused by 2004's tsunami, the fortified city is back on its feet and is home to some of the finest luxury hotels in the region. One of these fine establishments is The Fortress Hotel, fashioned to resemble a powerful fortress rising from the sea. Perched on the beach, the new resort offers exquisite, perfumed gardens, a renowed spa with Ayurvedic treatments, free flow swimming pool, Sri Lankan tea room, wine cellar and restaurants. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Fortress features beautiful rooms with designer amenities, designed in a style which forges Dutch and Portuguese styles with Sri Lankan motifs.