Page 514 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

512  SOUTHWESTERN INDIA

y Braganza House

The awesome scale of Braganza House, and the
magnificence of its interior, make it Goa’s grandest colonial
mansion. This 17th-century building is still occupied by
two branches of the Braganza family. The descendants
of Antonio Elzario Sant’Anna Pereira occupy the east wing,
while Francisco Xavier de Menezes Braganza’s descendants
live in the west wing. Both men received royal titles and
a coat of arms from the king of Portugal in the late 19th
century. The top floors of their private apartments have the
splendid ballroom, library and chapel, and fine collections
of 18th-century furniture and Chinese porcelain. Dining Hall
A long table fills the first floor dining
. The Chapel hall of this sprawling mansion.
The Baroque-style chapel has a
diamond-encrusted fingernail
of St Francis Xavier on its altar.

KEY
1 The East Wing is owned by
the Braganza Pereiras.
2 The Guest Bedroom is
dominated by a large rosewood
four-poster bed. At its foot is a
rosewood two-seater.
3 The West Wing is occupied
by the Menezes Braganzas.
4 The Library has Goa’s finest
private collection, with over 5,000
leather-bound books.

. The Ballroom
A rosewood armchair with the Braganza
coat of arms and a gilded mirror are in the
mansion’s grandest room. The walls as well
as the floors are of marble, and chandeliers
hang from its floral- patterned zinc ceiling.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p701 and pp715–16

512-513_EW_India.indd 512 26/04/17 11:48 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm