Galle, Sri Lanka

Situated on a large harbor on the island's southern coast, Galle dates from the 13th century, possibly much earlier, but it became the island's chief port during the period of Portuguese rule (1507–c. 1640). Under Dutch rule it was the island capital until 1656, when Colombo replaced it. The rise of Colombo's port in the second half of the 19th century led to Galle's decline. The historic section of the city, containing a fort and other colonial-era buildings, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. [—Text adapted from Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008]