One such beautiful mansion is the Menezes Braganza Pereira House in the village of Chandor. This house is over 350 years old, thus making it one of the oldest existing structures in Goa. At the rear end, this house faces the church square in Chandor, making the location even more scintillating. The mansion is one of the most beautiful and historically rich among all houses existing in Goa.
Architecture and Design
The mansion is constructed in the style of Portuguese architecture and happens to be one of the largest countryside houses in Goa. It has 24 windows, thus being one of the longest mansions in the area. On the right and left sides, the outer facade of the mansion leads towards the wings of the house.
It’s the only house made of locally quarried laterite stone, so it does look a bit different. There is also this beautiful garden with a mosaic seat and a functional fountain. Inside, it’s just ginormous with huge rooms reflecting the Portuguese touch in architecture. Shells line all the windows of this mansion, preventing natural light from entering the house during the day. The family uses silver dinner utensils, which are still preserved and displayed in the museum inside this house.
Historical Significance
The Menezes Braganza Pereira House was built over 350 years ago at the initiative of the Late A.F.S. Braganza Pereira. Family records indicate that they built this house in the 17th century when the Portuguese ruled Goa.The ground for the house was a grant to the Pereira family by the Portuguese king, Don Luiz, toward the end of the 16th century.
During the Spanish invasion, they restructured and redesigned the house. Later, they divided the house into two halves for the two sisters in the family. The west wing went to Menezes Braganza, while the east wing was reserved for Braganza Pereira, the respective husbands of the Pereira sisters.
Museum and Artifacts
The house also contains a museum with paintings, chandeliers, porcelain, historic furniture, and other such objects related to the Pereira family. One of the more interesting exhibits on display at this museum is a nail of St. Francis Xavier, once used by this family. The Portuguese rulers gifted the chairs inside the ballroom to the family in the 17th century.
Visiting Information
The Menezes Braganza Pereira House is open to visitors from 9 am to 5 pm every day. There is no charge for entry, but one can drop a small donation in a box inside the house. This money goes towards the upkeep of the house. With the humongous tourist influx throughout the year in Goa, the mansion sees quite a few visitors who come to witness its rich history and architecture.
Situated in Chandor, Goa, this sprawling mansion presents the Menezes Braganza Pereira House as a very historic beauty. Any person interested in the cultural heritage of this land must visit it.
