The Museum of Christian Art was founded in 1994 and was the first of it's kind in Asia. It was earlier located in Rachol, Salcette before being relocated to its present site in the Convent of Santa Monica, Old Goa, close to a few other world heritage monuments.
A project of the Archdiocese of Goa, the museum houses a unique collection of Christian art dating as far back at the 16th century. Most of these pieces were introduced to Goa after the Portuguese invasion whereupon the missionaries set about spreading evangelisation.The objects include sculptures in in ivory, wood, clay depicting images of Christ on the cross, of Virgin Mary under different invocations, of saints and angels.
Apart from the Indo- Portuguese connect, what is also interesting about these objects is the Indian touch to it as plenty of local artists who copied these objects added their own style to these European objects of art. Some of the interesting pieces among the collection include a painting of St. Ursula which once adorned the walls of the Se Cathedral of Old Goa, an image of Jesus the Good Shepherd carved out of ivory and a bust of St. Margaret.
Timings: 9.30am to 5 pm
Entrance fees :Rs. 30/- per Adult, Rs. 10/- per student, children below12 years “ free.
Menezes Braganza House
Home is where the hearth is, but some homes hold in their confines, far greater wonders, than the humble fireplace.
Goa’s countryside is dotted with grand mansions fashioned after Indo-Portuguese architecture, which is unique to the land, that was ruled by the European colonists for more than four centuries. One such grand villa, the Menezes Braganza House, in the village of Chandor is a veritable treasure trove of relics and antique which hark back to the glory of the colonial era.
The single storey mansion, which dates back to more than 450 years, has been opened by the Menezes Braganza family for guided tours, so that visitors can soak themselves in the relics of past glory and relive memories of that era.
Right from beautiful, hand-carved furniture, to majestic paintings, to fine Macau-styled cutlery, to watches, to books, even a coat of arms, the guided tour around the mansion helps one paint a vivid picture of how the gentry lived in our colonial times.
Nearly every nook and cranny of the house has an antique and the antique has a beautiful story, narrated by the grand dames of the house, who walk the visitors around the home. The grand ballroom of the mansion itself is like a large, well-read and worn book and the centuries-old polished wooden planks which hold the floor together, seem eager to tell stories about the galas and dances, which they have shouldered through the centuries.
There is no entry fee for the guided tour, but no doubt you will feel generous when the guide, passes the donation box around.
Menezes Braganza mansion
Chandor, South Goa
Contact: 918322786222
