The 55 plantation houses left on the island are a visible remnant of slavery. The Dutch called them landhuizen and they're scattered all over Curaçao. Today these architectural gems have been transformed into art galleries, museums, hotels and restaurants. Each has its own history and some are completely ruined, but thankfully most have been restored to their former glory. Many of these manors were built from coral and include both brick and stone details. Nearly all of these buildings are located on hilltops for tactical and practical purposes. At a higher elevation its inhabitants could see neighbouring houses, which could come in handy in the event of a slave uprising and the temperatures are also cooler up there. Most of the buildings where the slaves lived no longer exist.