PORTUGUESE HOUSES IN FONTAINHAS

Roosters on top of Portuguese houses in Goa

It is very easy to identify the Portuguese houses. All Portuguese houses have a bright coloured rooster on the top. Rooster is a national symbol of Portugal which symbolises honesty, integrity, trust and honour. Every Portuguese is supposed to have this on top of their houses to bring them good luck.

Statues of soldier on top of houses in Goa

Some houses in Goa have statues of soldiers on the top. This signifies that the house belonged to a freedom fighter.

Statues of soldiers on top of Portuguese houses in Goa

Oyster Shells windows in Portuguese houses in Goa

The houses have large ornamental windows made of timber that open in the streets or the veranda. The glass panes were replaced by oyster shells that were found extensively on beaches. The flat ones were shaped and slipped between grooved wooden battens to be installed into windows. Oyster shells kept the houses cool from the tropical heat of this region. The quality of light which passed through these openings gave the houses a very special ambiance.

Oyster Shells windows in Portuguese houses in Goa

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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 Bridge is pai

CAFE BODEGA

CAFE BODEGA SUNAPARANTA CENTER FOR THE ARTS (CAFE BODEGA) Located within one of Panjim's best known art galleries, is a well loved café called Bodega. Finding its home in the restored heritage mansion at top of Altinho's hill and catering to frequent patrons of the centre. These Goan houses were built using the locally available red laterite heavy stones and set in lime motor placed not lengthwise but breadthwise to create thicker walls. These massive walls were designed to keep the sun’s heat out in the summertime while retaining the internal heat in the winters. Big windows were provided in the high walls for the excess light to brighten the deep dark interiors. A layer of mud, jiggery and lime was used as a plaster for its walls originally which has now been replaced by cement in restoration work. Smaller wooden beams or ‘vashe’ as they are called in Konkani which formed the rafters were used to change the slope of roof

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 India as traders probably

Architect of portuguese era,goa

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