Unlike the other colonial powers in India, the Portuguese managed to leave a much more visible mark on the residential architecture of the area they ruled. The British and the French left their mark on the architecture of huge buildings such as assemblies and railway stations which have since become landmarks of the period.

The Portuguese in Goa built residential houses reflecting a style which is hardly found elsewhere on the Indian subcontinent. These magnificent palatial houses inspired by European architectural style are still found in Goa today, although they are confined to the rural areas such as Chandrapura, Chandor and Loutolim. These mansions were built in an era when the Portuguese had handsome profits from their trading colonies in Africa and South America.

This blogpost looks at some of the old heritage houses of South Goa which were inspired by European architectural styles and stand tall even today.

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Braganza House

The Braganza House is 350 years old and occupies one entire side of the village square in Chandor. This elaborate mansion is spread over 10,000 sqm and is divided into two wings that are occupied by the Braganza family. The palatial house has a stunning ballroom, massive Belgian crystal chandeliers, exquisite antiques collected over centuries and the oldest private library in Goa with over 5000 books.

Palacio do Deao

Palacio do Deao, a 213 years old mansion, was built by a Portuguese noble man, who was the Dean of the Church, and founder of Quepem town. The house faces the Church he built and is on the banks of the wildly beautiful Kushavati River. Here’s a video about the lovely house.

Figueirido House

The magnificent Figueirido House in Loutolim took shape as early as 1590, at a time when the Taj Mahal was yet to be conceived. The Figueiredo family had a prominent presence in Goa as lawyers, diplomats and ambassadors. Today, the family has converted part of this palatial home into a historic museum with yet another section opened out as a breathtaking heritage homestay for visitors. Take a virtual tour through this palatial estate here.

Casa Araujo Alvares

This 250-year-old mansion belongs to the Alvares family and forms part of the Ancestral Goa tourist complex, set up to recreate Goan village life under Portuguese rule. The house has a spacious courtyard, a quaint chapel at its centre, old European furniture like most of its contemporaries and eclectic seashell windows that bring the beach inside.

To know more about the hidden gems of South Goa, read The Charms of South Goa - Part I

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A simple centerpiece for a coffee table in my home with plants growing in bottles.

The dragonfly is crafted from dry palm leaves, purchased from a street vendor in Vietnam. It remains one of my most treasured possessions.

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Tips on how to love staying at home

Tip 1. Bring nature into your home. Going to a florist is not a priority item at this point, so my tip is to go cut some green leaves and branches growing near your home and create your own arrangements at home or grow them in bottles with water. Use some of the beautiful wine bottles or glass jars that you may have at your disposal. You can add drama by placing the colored bottles on window ledges to get the light to shine through them!

See Athena Calderone's video on Foraging.

Go here for a list of plants that can easily grow in bottles with cuttings.

Tip 2: Institute a winding down ritual. Start an evening ritual of burning simple incense or a scented candle after sunset. This will be a signal for the family to wind down, take a breath, tune out work and social media and focus on leisure. Keep the lights low in the evening, try to stay away from jarring bright ceiling or wall lights. Instead rely on lamps to light up your living and sleeping spaces. Adjust the brightness of a lamp by simply covering your lamps with a scarf, your zero cost dimmer!

Tip 3: Bust out the fancy! Make this a time for celebration with your immediate loved ones. Set the dinner table, add a floral (or plant) arrangement, add a candle and bring out the fancy dinnerware. This is really a time to make everyday special and to count on our blessings each and everyday!