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

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.

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

Architect of portuguese era,goa

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