A 500 years greater preserved Portuguese House

Goa is the one of place on the Asian sub continent where we find civilization which can be has old has from 1700s.Interestingly they are still intact and inhabited by the generations of the owners. The Portuguese left a visible mark on the structures and delicacies in Goa.

Sara Fernandes House is a 500 years Heritage house which was built even before the Portuguese arrival. Located in Chandor “Voddlem Ghor” has a large ballroom, spacious verandah, French glass windows, mirrors and crystal chandeliers which adorn the beauty of the place. Tall vases, Piano and lamps add to the unusual style of architecture.

Sara the eldest member of the Fernandes family lives in the mansion with her three sons and their families. There is no doubt that the Fernandes House is the one last chapter from books of history which beautifully blends the rich past into humble present ,awaiting a secured future.

The palatial mansion with 25 rooms reflects a style which is hardly found elsewhere,inspired by European architectural style and having a tint of Hindu culture.

The thickness of the wall the long laterite stones used for construction are still evident. The design or carvings on certain wooden doors and windows are typically of Hindu style. The windows have sea-shell décor. The house is one storeyed with a hide out at the basement which was, in the olden days supposed to provide an exit through the open passage between the two dining halls to the main gate at the rear. The architectural aspects of the old part of the house includes a special drainage system of the storm water through a channel cut in the stone on top of the compound wall at the rear.

The house has gun holes in the hide-out which were provided probably during the 18th century or even earlier, when the old exit door was closed and access was provided by a stair case to the upper storey.

With the arrival of the Portuguese, the house underwent a gradual change. The façade was made towards the road. With the Portuguese came the influence of the western culture. A large ball room was added some 150 years ago.The ballroom consists of a spacious verandah, long French glass windows, a wooden floor with baroque styled furniture, a large Belgian mirror, crystal chandeliers and crystal lamp holders adorn the wall. Tall solitaire vases, a piano and antique oil lamps are some of the showpieces in the ballroom

The house displays a granite stone pillar with an inscription in Kannada script that dates back to 7th century. It mentions the name of the sculptor Desloja who wrote the record on that stone. Another granite stone sculpture of Bhairav (God that guards the village) dates back to the pre-Kadamba period.