Museum Balla Lompoa

Makassar


A seemingly forgotten and rather dilapidated collection of local artefacts is housed in an impressive example of traditional Sulawesi architecture: the ancient fort of Benteng Sungguminasa. This massive ironwood building raised on 2m stilts was once the seat of the Sultan of Gowa. It's 12km south of Makassar town centre at Sungguminasa.

Red pete-pete marked 'S Minasa' head to Sungguminasa from Makassar Mall bus stop.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Makassar attractions

1. Makam Sultan Hasanuddin

1.01 MILES

This tomb memorialises Indonesian national hero Sultan Hasanuddin, who ruled Gowa during the 17th century, fiercely defending the kingdom against the…

2. Beteng Somba Opu

3.69 MILES

Once the most formidable fortress in the archipelago, Somba Opu was decimated by the Dutch in 1669, then consumed by the Jeneberang River delta. One…

3. Masjid Amirul Mukminin

5.14 MILES

Rising above the sea on concrete pillars, this small but stylish twin-domed 'floating mosque' enjoyed better sunset views (and cleaner waters) before…

4. Asmaul Husnah 99 Kubah

5.37 MILES

On the reclaimed waterfront opposite Pantai Losari, this stunning bright-orange-and-white, 99-domed mosque was almost complete at the time of research and…

5. Pantai Losari

5.48 MILES

Pantai Losari is a kilometre-long beachless promenade that stretches south to Masjid Amirul Mukminin, the 'floating mosque'. It's a good place to catch…

6. Museum Negeri La Galigo

5.95 MILES

Spread across two buildings inside Fort Rotterdam, Museum Negeri La Galigo has an assortment of exhibits, including palaeolithic artefacts, rice bowls…

7. Fort Rotterdam

5.98 MILES

One of the best-preserved examples of Dutch military architecture in Indonesia, Fort Rotterdam was built on the site of a Gowanese fort, itself built to…

8. Pelabuhan Paotere

6.92 MILES

Pelabuhan Paotere, 4km north of the city centre, is a large port where Bugis sailing ships berth. It's a working port, with requisite bustle and grime,…