Architect of portuguese era,goa

The Bishops Palace also known as the Patriarcal Palace is situated in Altinho the hillock overlooking the city of Panaji. It is one of the main attraction in this area and is the residence of the Archbishop of Goa.  In order to reflect the elevation of the Archbishop to a Patriarch, the Bishop's Palace was constructed. The diocese of Goa was established here in the year 1533, and raised to an Archdiocese in 1557.  The development of this area had began in year 1886 starting with the work of Archbishop to Patriarchal status finishing by the year 1894, the first Patriarch, "Dom Antonio Sebastiao Valente" entrance is designed with coats of arms

MENEZES BRAGANZA Braganza Pereira House from the outside Goa by the Portuguese in the early 16th Century and continued almost till the time they left in 1961. Over the years many of these have disappeared while only a few have endured the test of times and live on to tell their tale to the world. One such house is the Braganza Pereira House located in the Chandor area of South Goa. Braganza Pereira House from the Inside Mrs Braganza’s house is one such place and they opened it to the public many decades ago when they realised that they needed much more money for the upkeep of the house than they actually had. Visitors were encouraged to visit the house and leave a donation to help maintain the house. Often it was not Indians who visited these old houses, but foreigners and many of the them made donations, small and large, and this allowed her to keep a part of the house the way it was in the Portuguese era. However, this is changing now and often many Indians who want...

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 A layer of mud, jiggery and lime was used as a plaster for its walls originally which has now been replaced by cement in restoration work.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 t...

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 o...

Art Portuguese Houses Art Galleries in Fontainhas There are a couple of art galleries in Fontainhas, which are frequented by art and architecture students who come to learn about the ancient architecture of Goa. Fontainhas Art Festival is organised here every year for a week when the historic houses are turned into galleries. The residents of these houses display their artworks, unique architectural features of their balconies, and furnishings in their dining halls.   Art work inside the houses Every year, for one week, the historic houses in Fontainhas are turned into art galleries, with residents displaying their artworks, unique architectural features of their balconies, and furnishings in their dining halls. Art houses resorted Coloured wash on Portuguese houses in Goa The coloured wash on the houses looked decorative and was a sign of economic well-being. D uring Portuguese rule the owner of the house was fined if his house wa...

CHAPEL OF St. SEBASTIAN Chapel of St Sebastian in Fontainhas, Goa The Chapel of St Sebastian, erected in 1880, it was build at the Portuguese time and it is located at the southern end of the Fontainhas. It was traditionally the locale for the annual street festival of the Feast of Our Lady of Livrament. An old well exists in its precincts. The chapel is well preserved and has a very large crucifix, which was once fixed at the Palace of the Inquisition in Old Goa; earlier, it was in the palace of Adil Shah but later moved to this chapel when the Viceroy moved out to Cabo.

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....

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...

PORTUGUESE HERITAGE COLONY IN FONTAINHAS Fontainhas (or Bairro das Fontainhas, in Portuguese) is an old Latin Quarter in Panjim, capital city of the state of Goa, India. In the late seventeenth century, a Goan expatriate named Antonio Joao de Sequeira (nicknamed Mossmikar), who had made his wealth while working in Mozambique, established Fontainhas.(1770) It maintains its Portuguese influence, particularly through its architecture, which includes narrow and picturesque winding streets as found in many European cities. Old villas and buildings with projecting balconies painted in the traditional tones of pale yellow, green, or blue, and roofs made of red coloured tiles. It was done as per the European style.                                     ...

THREE KINGS CHURCH Three Kings Church, Chandor, South Goa India Schedule your trip to the church around January 6th as the day is celebrated as "The feast of the 3 kings". Goa is known as the beach capital of India for obvious reasons – countless beaches, exhilarating beach life, carnivals, seafood, and an ultimate holiday environment. It is also one of the states in India which attracts the maximum number of foreign tourists. I magine experiencing spine-chilling eerie activities at a place like this? Three Kings Church, officially Our Lady of Remedios Chapel, is situated in a plush village of Goa called Chandor which is 15 km east of one of Goa’s most prominent locations – Margao. This small town is a perfect getaway from all the beach life madness if you want to break away from the monotony of it. It is also the perfect place for history buffs to know about the Goa’s former landowners’ lifestyle along with dereliction of so...

OUR LADY OF MOUNT MARY CHURCH,OLD GOA-GOA The Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount has a very interesting history. It was built by Alfonso de Albuquerque after his victory over the Goan Muslim ruler Yusuf Shah in 1510. Twice reconstructed and renovated in 2001, it stands in its pristine environment attracting many from around the world. Alfonso de Albuquerque first launched his attack on Adil Shah to take possession of Goa in March 1510. His attempts were thwarted by them. Alfonso de Albuquerque launched his second attack .on November 25, 1510 successfully claiming the land. He had realized the importance of the lofty lookout on the hill and the strategic location of the mount.   The chapel of Our Lady of the Mount was built many years after the conquest of Goa to mark the places where Adil Shah's artillery had taken position. An old temple on the spot gave way to to the church. The Portuguese Archaeological Committee placed an inscription on marble in 1931 saying...