Fodor's Expert Review Wolvendaal Church

Serving as a reminder that Sri Lanka was once a colony of the Netherlands, this beautiful Dutch Reform Church—the oldest in Colombo—dates from around 1740. The name, meaning "Dale of Wolves," refers to a time before the city expanded this far, when the area was still a swampy marshland roamed by wild beasts. The wolves in question were actually jackals, but apparently the early Dutch colonists couldn't tell the difference. Services (in Tamil and English) are still held here on Sunday mornings, and if you're lucky enough to encounter one of the enthusiastic curators, you may get treated to a personal tour of this historically fascinating building.