Vintage buys on vantage streets

For pure indulgence book a couple of nights in the big and luxurious 'Le Grand Apartment de Compte Du Mauny' in the Galle Fort Hotel on Church Street. Enjoy a healthy breakfast and a swim in the pool of the hotel's beautiful award winning UNESCO courtyard, and you start energized and fresh in a glamorous day on the Fort's catwalk. The first shop to start with is not far. The hotel's own Galle Fort Hotel Gallery shop offers selected antiques, paintings laden with gold, saris, books and elegant household items from chic sheets to glam accessories.

After a spot of retail therapy head along Church Street, also known as a shopper's paradise. For truly stunning household items and a painting by the country's leading female Fort mapping artist, Catherine Hewapathirana, you will be dazzled by Exotic Roots range of beautiful things. Here you can also purchase beautiful beach sarongs and striking jewellery. Next door you will find interior designs inspired by a villa owner with excellent taste at KK - Kahanda Kanda-the Collection. How about a vintage travel poster from Sri Lanka? Pop across the road into Phil's Church Street Gallery and choose a fancy wall decoration in the old fashioned movie poster style. My favourite has to be the retro images of the old airline shots and Tarzan and Jane swinging through the air.

Souvenirs for home

If you walk further down Church Street, you come straight towards Barefoot at the corner, turning in to Pedlar Street, where you will find many suitable items for a nice souvenir to take back home including their signature Barefoot colourful wall hangings which are legendary throughout the island. Once you have filled your bags with hand woven colourful cloth, sarongs and stunning tops turn right into Pedlar Street and browse through the sweet little boutique by Italian lady Paola called Koccoriko.

At the corner to Lighthouse Street you should not miss Mimimango and Jo Jo for paradise fashion and jewellery. It is truly the Audrey Hepburn shop for women who love truly modern pieces beautifully set. Also the Pedlar's Inn Gallery is worth a visit with the enjoyment of an ice cream next door or across the road, frozen yoghurt.

Pedlar's Inn further down the street, one of the first spots to open post tsunami, was an overnight hit. Here you can have one of their mouthwatering and famous brownies to regain some energy while relaxing between lovely cushions on their comfy sofas in the front room.

BBQ, mousse, fruit coulis

Walk back and turn left into Lighthouse Street to find a place to eat lunch: Either for Art Deco fans try Deco Forty's fish or enjoy a barbeque and lush chocolate mousse with passion fruit coulis at Fortaleza, a converted 1600 year old spice warehouse further down Lighthouse Street at the corner to Church Cross Street. After lunch you can go next door to The Galle Fort Spa set in a beautiful old colonial house and indulge in a series of divine treatments.

After pampering yourself in style, find your way back to Pedlar Street and walk towards the Leyn Baan Street crossing.

Have a look into Elite Travels and try on some nice beachwear made by The Old Railway - fancy designs in Sri Lankan sari garments.

Turn right into Leyn Baan Street and watch out for the shopping complex Carrousel de Galle for more clothes, tea and jewellery. The other option for antique fans is Olanda, when you turn left onto Leyn Baan Street. You will find unique items here which can be shipped to Europe, America or Australia if you wish.

More retail therapy

Still fancy a bit more retail therapy, then another stylish shop named Souk 58 full of interior designs is a must for clothes and bags, all well selected and created by the innovative New Zealand designer Simone. For high class jewellery take your time to go through Ibrahim's collection to find a unique and classic piece made out of Sri Lankan sapphires or other precious stones. This is the oldest jewellery shop in the Fort, dating back to 1909 and they have kept their customers happy for well over 100 years, because their quality and designs are second to none.

On your way back towards the hotel, take a look at the current exhibition at the Fort Printers Private Hotel - maybe there is a piece of art you like and want to take home.

The next big exhibition will be Drawn to the Fort on June 8 and for this exciting weekend.

Finish your walk by grabbing a planter's chair on the verandah of the Amangalla at the far end of Church Street to pamper your taste buds with high tea delights such as cake that melts in your mouth and scones with homemade strawberry jam served with Virgin White Tea. This most exclusive and excellent tea is untouched by human hands and is produced by legendary tea planter Herman Gunaratne, the Hemingway of the Southern province. You cannot find it anywhere else in the Fort.

The views of the historic rampart and life passing by are a reminder that Vintage Galle is now very much back in fashion and with the superhighway it's only an hour from the capital, making it the perfect weekend break or a place to hold a special celebration.

After all where in the world can you hire a vintage car to explore this time locked treasure, have a vintage outfit designed for you personally, complete with a classic piece of jewellery all of which can be created for you within 24 hours while you enjoy the countless beautiful villas and hotels being pampered in style.