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 The Fort
Printers is an 18th century property that has been carefully
restored into a lovely small boutique hotel. Situated in the
heart of Galle Fort, the house has a glamorous feel while
still managing to retain a sense of simplicity, with personal
service and friendly atmosphere. The building itself dates
back two centuries. It once housed a school, then one of
Galle's famous Buddhist institutions, as well as the Bank of
Ceylon and finally a printing press. Some of the building's
historical artifacts are displayed in the current hotel's
lounge. Fort Printers can be booked in its entirety or per
room.
Location
Fort Printers
has an excellent location in the heart of Galle Fort, close to
the sought-after historic hotels of Galle Fort Hotel and
Amangalla. The scenic Galle coastline and many bars and
restaurants is a short distance away. Galle is 120km south of
Colombo and driving direct from the airport averages about
four-and-a-quarter hours.
Facilities
Downstairs near
the entrance there are two spacious lounges, which are light
and peaceful and which display some of the building's
historical artifacts. Beyond these rooms is the dining area. A
neat little veranda beside the pool provides welcome shade by
day and a romantic scene at night. The pool is small and
relatively narrow, but perfectly good for the size of the
hotel. The restaurant offers an imaginative menu that seeks to
use fresh seafood and organic, local produce. A variety of
breads are freshly baked daily. Two dedicated chefs plan the
menu for the day based on guests' preferences, and lovingly
create delicious Sri Lankan curries, grilled fresh seafood and
Mediterranean inspired specialties.
Excursions
Galle Fort is
incomparable to anywhere else in Sri Lanka. Entering through
the 'new' English gate or the 'old' Dutch gate is akin to
stepping into a different realm. Within, 600 houses, each with
various degrees of renovation to their original Dutch
architecture, crowd narrow, winding streets with individual,
old-world charm. The thick, high ramparts that protect and
distinguish the Fort are today used for romantic evening
strolls, early morning power-walks and convenient viewpoints
to catch enthusiastic ad-hoc cricket games as well as
international matches held in the adjacent Galle cricket
stadium. Fort Printers is centrally located in the Fort, close
to a number of cafés, boutique shops and restaurants. Some of
Sri Lanka's best sunbathing beaches are only a short trishaw
ride away.
Accommodation
Fort Printers
has five strikingly stylish, highly polished rooms (one by the
pool, four upstairs), each of which is adorned with silky
drapery and slick furniture combining a wealth of Asian,
European and Oriental styles. All rooms have a/c and elegant
en suite bathrooms, equipped with good showers, sinks and
toilets. A throwback to its original days as a day school, the
Fort Printers suites are named History, Geography, Arts,
Headmaster's and The Prefect's. The upstairs suites overlook
the clay-tiled rooftops of the Fort houses, the lighthouse and
harbour at a distance.
...Room View...
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