#braganzaHouse #Goatour #offbeatgoa #soumalya #letsgowithsoumalya #letsgo Braganza House, Goa | Menezes Braganza House | Old Portuguese House | Off beat Goa | Lets Go Built in the 17th century, Braganza House is a magnificent Portuguese mansion that extends along one side of the Chandor village square and is spread over 10,000 sq m. Constructed as a single structure by the Braganza family, it was eventually divided into two wings, both of which are now open to tourists. The biggest Portuguese mansion, one-of-its-kind in Goa, it was built on land granted by the king of Portugal to the Braganza family, who were an influential lot. In 1950, the Braganza family fled from the mansion as one the family members was closely associated with the Indian Independence movement against the Portuguese rule. Both sides are open to the public daily. There are no set tour times, but if you enter either side a family member or representative should give you a guided tour and regale you with a few stories of the lifestyles of the landed gentry during Goa’s years of Portuguese rule. The entry fee at each side is a suggested donation and goes towards the considerable upkeep of the homes, which receive no official funding. The West Wing belongs to one set of the family’s descendants, the Menezes-Braganças. It’s well maintained and more like a museum than a home, filled with gorgeous Belgian glass chandeliers, Italian marble floors and antique treasures from Macau, Portugal, China and Europe. Also here is the extensive library of Dr Luís de Menezes Bragança, a noted journalist and leading light in the Goan Independence movement. No photography. Next door, the East Wing is owned by the Pereira-Braganza family, descendants of the other half of the family. It’s not as grand and well-maintained as its counterpart but is beautiful in its own lived-in way and is also crammed with antiques and collectables from around the world. It features a large ballroom with marble floor, but the high point is the small family chapel, which contains a carefully hidden fingernail of St Francis Xavier. braganza house,braganza house goa taj,beaganza,braganza goa,briganja,briganza,brijanza,offbeat goa,un explore goa,unexplore goa,goa offbeat destination,unseen goa,goa beaches,goa,south goa,goa heritage house,goa heritage hotel,goa heritage walk,letsgo,cholo lets go,soumalya,soumallo,soumalua,Chandor village,chandor village goa,braganza house chandor,menezes bragancas,Pereira-Braganza,goa church,goa christian wedding,goanese,portuguees in goa Braganza House Braganza House Goa Goa Offbeat soumalya soumalya maiti soumallo souma briganza south goa old goa heritage house South Goa Goa Heritage Menezes Braganza Perera Braganza Unseen goa

• published: 22 Sep 2021
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