The town of Margao in South Goa is known more today as the commercial capital of Goa. But there is a more genteel and cultured side to Margao, which has been recently getting drowned in the din of development and commerciality.
Take the Abade Faria street, which houses some grand old heritage homes for instance. Walk down this street, especially on a Sunday afternoon, when traffic is at its minimal and it will virtually take your breath away. Such is the languid beauty of this street, that it should rightly be christened as the town’s heritage path.
The exquisite façade of homes like the one owned by the Alvares’, the Lourencos, Monte da Silva’s also on Abade Faria street are more of grand works of art than simply abodes for living.
The entire Abade Faria street is littered with splendid brick and mortar exponents of the Indo-Portuguese architectural style, which continues to hold its own place of pride even today.
The stunning Holy Spirit church lies just off Abade Faria street. The church itself is more than 400 years old. What’s wonderfully peculiar about the architecture of the church are the local design motifs reflected on its walls, inspired by peacocks and cobras, which is a rarity considering the overwhelming Western influences which the religion of Christianity came with at the time.
Abade Faria street, the heritage street of Margao
Margao town, 35 kms from Panaji
