Church of Mae de Deus (Saligao)

Church of Mae de Deus

(Saligao)

Mae de Deus Church

Stark, stern and yet with a glamorous charm all its own, the Mae de Deus or Mother of God Church is a breath-taking site. With its Gothic spires and pristine white walls, it reminds one of a fairy-tale castle. Situated amidst picturesque surroundings of the typical Goan countryside, this Church at Saligao, which is situated in the Bardez taluka, was built in 1873. It is amongst the finest in the Gothic style and is attractively illuminated at night.

View at night

Claim to fame : It is the finest example of Neo-Gothic architecture in Goa. It houses the miraculous statue of Mae de Deus (Mother of God) which was brought from the ruins of the convent of Mae de Deus at Old Goa.

History, Construction and Architecture

The church dedicated to the Mother of God or Our Lady came to be built at Bardez in the 19th Century. Its foundation stone was laid on 7th February 1867 and the Saligao Church was inaugurated on November 26, 1873.

Inside the Church

The Church building is stunningly distinctive with its jutting spires, each crowned with a cross. It has buttresses supporting its exterior walls and belfry. The courtyard of the Church contains another statue of the Mae de Deus, this one made of black stone.

Made possible by the endeavours of the faithful parishioners of Saligao and a singularly beautiful monument for the ages, do stop by this church as you pass it on the Chogm road from Panaji, if only to take a few pictures of its fantastical architecture.

Comments

Patto Bridge

Patto Bridge The Patto bridge a historic monument built by the Portuguese is a small bridge in Panjim the capital city of Goa. The Patto bridge is the extension of the causeway known as Ponte de Linhares (‘ Ponte’ in Portuguese means Bridge ) that is about 3.2 kms long and is considered to be one of the longest bridge in South Asia. Also the oldest causeway of its kind it links Panaji with the Ribandar village. Architecture The Panjim side Patto Bridge is also a beautiful piece of architecture. The expertise of the Jesuits of the College of St. Paul (Collegio de Sao Paulo) in Old Goa was availed of in 1632 and the massive bridge, the longest and oldest in the whole East, was built on alluvial soil after stabilizing it with solid trunks of local timber known as “ zambo” or “jambo” (benth). T he bridge a fine piece of architecture with Roman style arches is built of laterite stone and the area around the bridge is known as Patto. The Patto Brid...

St. Clara's church

St. Clare Church, Assonora, Goa is called ‘Santa Clara Igreja em Assonora, Goa’ in Portuguese. St. Clare Church, Assonora, Goa is popularly called ‘The Assonora Church’ locally in Goa. The Assonora church was originally a chapel built in 1781. The Assonora Chapel was however burnt down several times by the Marathas and was rebuilt every time it was destroyed. The Assonora chapel was originally affiliated to the parish of Tivim to the St Christopher Church in Tivim. The Assonora Chapel was raised to the status of a Parish of St. Clare Church, Assonora on 18.10.1805.

SIRIDAO CHAPEL

SIRIDAO CHAPEL Siridao lies on the northern fringe of the ancient Gopakpattana port, which once covered coastal areas of Goa Velha and Agasaim. Ships from different parts of the world dropped anchor till a millennia ago at this teeming port. The quaint architecture of the Jesus of Nazareth chapel at Siridao has remained shrouded in obscurity, but a few are convinced the unusual dome-shaped structure holds a key to evidence of pre-Portuguese Christianity and a multicultural society in the area. Perched on the edge of a hillock with a panoramic view of Zuari bay, the centuries-old chapel appears to be an extension of a smaller dome-shaped original. The Jewish presence may have been wiped off during the inquisition in Goa from 1560 to 1812. Cave behind the Chapel The third statue stands faded and forlorn in an open area behind Siridao church. "The Portuguese Jews arrived in In...

Architect of portuguese era,goa

Search This Blog