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The Architectural Evolution of the Shared Heritage and the Portuguese

Influence-Case of Old Goa

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CONSCIOUS Journal of Planning, Architecture and Design

July–December 2021
URBANISM Vol. 1(1), pp. 78–83
[Link]
An initiative of Copal Publishing Group

The Architectural Evolution of the Shared Heritage

and the Portuguese Influence: Case of Old Goa
a
Uzma Khan and bSarmistha Chatterjee
a
Assistant Professor, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopal
Assistant Professor (senior scale), Manipal School of Architecture and Planning (MSAP), MAHE
b

ARTICLE DETAILS Abstract: Goa, the Indian state located in the southwestern region of the country across the
Arabian sea, inhibits a unique cultural heritage owing to the vast layers of history it manifests.
Peer-Reviewed on June 10, 2021
It has resulted in the transfusion of various architectural styles over time for the evolution of
Accepted on June 14, 2021
shared heritage, an amalgamation of local and the foreign. It can be defined as the marker of
Published online on August 12, 2021
its diverse and varied native community knitted together through space, time and the common
heritage; to be passed on to future generations. The study area for this research focuses upon
the architectural heritage of the Portuguese capital, Velha Goa. The historic site consists of
Key words:
more than fifty archaeological and state-protected monuments. The intangible and tangible
Shared heritage, Architectural heritage,
heritage is knitted together through the past four centuries, celebrating itself as a living heritage
Old Goa
blended with the local culture. The study analyses the influences of local culture and indigenous
knowledge systems through the built typology of churches situated in Old Goa through archival
Corresponding author email: research, documentation, stakeholder analysis and surveys. The study is significant to draw
inferences from the traces of distinct architectural heritage prevalent at the regional level to
ensure the sustenance of its legacy and knowledge systems.

1.1
Introduction knowledge systems blended into one. With over centuries
India is a country with a long-standing documented history of history and many overlays in architectural paradigms,
of approximately 5000 years and oral narratives dating ‘Imageability’ (Lynch 1960) of the Indian cities can be studied
almost 10,000 years. The various daily life practices, social to understand the complex network of patterns, influences,
and cultural engagements, food, dance, music, traditional borrowed traditions, collective memories and shared
knowledge systems have seen many transformations owing cultures stirred together, creating a syncretic architectural
to its rich cultural diversity. The term ‘shared’ is almost evolvement. The spice route along the Malabar Coast of the
synonymous as indicative of a period of these adaptations Indian subcontinent, connecting it to various global capitals,
and transformations. It would be rightfully agreed amongst drew significantly in the cultural exchange of ideas and
many professionals, discussants, scholars, researchers and knowledge. Its impact was implied in architectural heritage
non-researchers that varied influences have been gradual as well. The influence of temple architecture of the Cholas
but have shown a clear progressive development in the built was noticeable to the far extent of the temple of Angkor
heritage. Wat located in Cambodia; and consecutively, the tradition
of influence in regional architectural styles is carried out
People since time immemorial have been subject to throughout the medieval ages to the colonial times where
migration and changes in occupation due to various reasons the influence of Dutch architecture in Kerala, Portuguese
such as war, famine, lack of natural resources or provision architecture in Goa, French architecture in Bengal, and the
of better opportunities in a foreign land (Karsten 2012). British architecture in Delhi can be seen in many instances
Thus, they also carried a new cultural ethos into a new land, across the Indian subcontinent. Each of these styles had much
ensuring their cultural legacy. Various architectural styles in to borrow and contribute to the evolution of architectural
different regions of the country have unique characteristics styles of later period or shared heritage study.
that evolved over time due to various cultures, traditions, and

1
The term was introduced by Kevin Lynch in his book ‘The Image of the City’ where he discusses the mental image invoked by a physical
object and its environment in the observer’s mind. The same has been an important method of evaluation of the urban.

78 ©Author(s) 2021. This article is published with open access at [Link]

Vol. 1, No. 1; July–December 2021
 Uzma Khan and Sarmistha Chatterjee, Conscious Urbanism, Vol. 1, No. 1, July–December 2021

The study discusses the architectural heritage of Old of various architectural styles over time for the evolution of
Goa, also known as Velha Goa, which gained prominence in shared heritage, an amalgamation of local and foreign.
the 15th–18th century under Portuguese rule and resulted in
Table 1.1 Timeline of various dynasties of Goa
the Indo-Portuguese style of architecture. Structures in Velha
Goa that remain today are markers of their former occupation Time Period Dynasty
of a place by the various rulers. With each successive layer, 3rd Century BC Mauryas
people exchanged and ‘shared’ their differing cultures, skills
2nd Century BC to 6th Century AD Bhojas
and experience to create a built expression that has become
578 AD to 753 AD Chalukyas
distinctive to a particular place (Shared Built heritage,
ICOMOS). The Portuguese rule, which spanned over 450 753 AD to 963 AD Rashtrakutas
years, is prominent in the state’s architectural heritage, 1312 AD Delhi Sultanate
traditions, cultural practices, and cuisine till date. 1370 AD Vijayanagara
1469 AD Bahmani Sultanate
1.2 Shared Heritage
1489 AD Adil Shahi
Heritage is defined as “the combined creations and products 1511 AD Portuguese
of nature and man, in their entirety that make up the
1961 AD Annexation into India
environment in which we live in space and time (Petti, Trillo
and Makore 2019). Heritage is a reality, a possession of the
community, and a rich inheritance that may be passed on, 1.4 Estado da India’s Built Cultural Heritage
which invites our recognition and our participation” (ICOMOS and Its Evolution
2008). Thus, shared heritage is essentially the prime identity The state of Goa, an erstwhile group of islands ruled by the
formed by layers of memory of the place. It is constantly Bijapur sultanate and Vijayanagara Empire (Pandit 2008)
subjected to changes as the main driver and marker of before the Portuguese arrival, was an important landmark
its diverse and varied native community knitted together under the spice route. The beginning of the 15th century
through space, time and the common heritage to be passed marked an era of colonial development under the Portuguese,
on to future generations (Elizabeth 2010). the first imperial power in Asia (Pearson 1988) with emerging
catholic institutions, chapels, basilicas and churches in what
This is the case in many instances of cultural heritage
came to be known as Estado da India (Portuguese Indian
throughout the vast geographical expanse of the Indian
state). The exchange of trade and ideas took place across
subcontinent. The cultural vibrancy and architectural built
the maritime spice route (Figure 1), expanding west into the
heritage of Goa are a resultant of this phenomenon of cultural
Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal along the Malabar Coast in the
exchanges reaching its zenith under various monarchies
Indian subcontinent (Disney 2009). Discovered by Vasco da
and rulers who always brought with them a foreign culture
Gama in the year 1497, the capital was developed under the
subsequently to amalgamate with the local and create an
influence of art and architecture from the native land to be
identity of its own by involving a wide range of community
developed into earmarks of Venice and Rome in the context
(Silberman, 2006).
of trade and religious prospects, respectively (Chakrabarti
1.3 The Context of Old Goa 2001).
The study area for this research focuses upon the The architectural developments in the 16th century in
architectural heritage of the Portuguese capital, Velha Goa were inspired on the lines of the urban character of
Goa. It was established in the 16th century across the River Lisbon. The grand development scheme consisted of several
Mandovi and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in distinct projects being envisioned, namely the largest church
1986 (WHC UNESCO 1986). The testimony to the glorious and convent supported with other significant institutions
heritage, presently a historic site, consists of more than 50 such as the first medical college, printing press and public
archaeological and state-protected monuments, and seven library in Asia. The Portuguese language – lingua franca – of
prominent churches out of the sixty built by the Portuguese Indian Ocean trade from the 16th century onwards remained
remain today in the former capital. Thus, the intangible the medium of communication between many South Asian
and tangible heritage is knitted together through the past states till it was replaced by English in the 19th century.
450 years, celebrating itself as a living heritage thoroughly (Kanekar 2018)
blended with the local culture.
With the establishment of the capital at Velha Goa, also
Goa, the Indian state located in the southwestern region of called as Rome of the orient, there was a need for physical
the country across the Arabian Sea, exhibits various instances infrastructure to accommodate the administrative, cultural
of shared heritage owing to the vast layers of history from the and religious institutions. Thus, the site across River Mandovi,
3rd century onwards under the reign of Mauryas followed by preceded by backwaters and mangrove forest, was chosen
the Vijayanagara dynasty, Bahmani Sultanate, Ahmad Shah, for the behest where the architectural remains from the
Portuguese and eventually its integration with the country of earlier dynasties were also located. It consists of prominent
India in 1961 (Santos 2016). This resulted in the transfusion structures inspired by the Renaissance and the Manueline²

©Author(s) 2021. This article

is published with open access at [Link] 79
Vol. 1, No. 1; July–December 2021
 Uzma Khan and Sarmistha Chatterjee, Conscious Urbanism, Vol. 1, No. 1, July–December 2021

Figure 1.1 Spice Route (© Khan, Uzma)

style of architecture, such as Se Cathedral (Fig. 2), Basilica Interestingly, the extent of the culture was not imposed
of Bom Jesus, St. Augustine towers and St. Francis Convent but rather influx with the local traditions and is still being
and the church are believed to be built on the remains of a practiced today, such as St. Francis Festival (Santos 2016). The
Bijapur Mosque (Walter 2011). Thus, the imageability of the manifestation of the intangible practices, rituals and traditions
cultural and administrative capital (Cidade de Goa3) was to can be seen in the built character and spatial annotations. It
a large extent marked by these religious buildings and their can be noted that the traditional Hindu courtyard house in
distinct style. Goa (Silveira et al 2008) and the site planning of the church
complex of St. Francis Assisi bear common characteristics.
The otherwise linear symmetry and proportions inspired
from the Renaissance and Baroque are transfused with the
organic and asymmetrical pathways.
Based on the traditional Portuguese street systems,
Rua Derita4 formed the nodal point and the commercial
spline of the Portuguese settlement. The earlier ruins of
what remained from the Bijapur sultanate in fortifications
and residences were transformed and adapted as per the
European context. The vocabulary of the built structures of
the religious typology of the cathedrals, churches, basilicas
and convents of the different religious orders of Franciscans,
Carmelites, Augustinians, Dominicans, Jesuits, and Theatines
resonated with the Manueline, Mannerist5 and Baroque6 style
of architecture from the 15th–18th century (Pereira 1995).
Earlier structures in the old capital, such as Chapel of
Our Lady of the Mount in the east at the highest point, Our
Lady of Rosary Church, Santa Monica Convent (1606), are
Figure 1.2 Se Cathedral (© Chatterjee, Sarmistha) some notable built structures of the era. Following structures
1.5 The Urban Character and Lisbon’s such as the Se Cathedral, formerly known as St. Catharina, is
Influence rebuilt several times. The use of the local material laterite can
also be seen in the construction of the barrel vault, a unique
The urban character of Estado da India, consisting of baroque experimentation in itself. The present structure dating back
architectural features of the built, invoked a sense of the to 1564–1652 was notable for being the largest church
medieval Portuguese capital of the Misericórdia Square. outside Portugal built by them. The church square, earlier
2
Architectural style named after the Portugal king Manuel I in the 16th century developed under the Portuguese Renaissance movement
3
Portuguese term translating to Capital of Goa
4
Portuguese term for street
5
Mannerism style originated as a result to the Renaissance in the 16th century as a reaction against the strict and linear symmetrical forms
of the latter
6
Architectural style that reached its peak in the High Renaissance Age in the 17th century based on Roman classical elements and high
ornamentation.

80 ©Author(s) 2021. This article is published with open access at [Link]

Vol. 1, No. 1; July–December 2021
 Uzma Khan and Sarmistha Chatterjee, Conscious Urbanism, Vol. 1, No. 1, July–December 2021

Figure 1.3 East street elevation to understand the architectural character, building heights and usage
(Chatterjee, et al., 2020)

called Terrerio7 do Sabaio (Adilshah’s square), had the Velha The architecture of the St. Francis Assissi has distinct
Goa and the important Indo-Portuguese built structures elements such as the Flemish vault, Bijapur influence in
Viceroy’s palace, Theatines convent and fortress built in the the intersecting arches and cross vaulting system of the
vicinity (Fig. 3). domes, corner towers invoking a fusion with the former
architectural style of the sultanate. The overall composition
1.6 Architectural Synthesis: Churches of is a reminiscence of the European built character assimilating
Velha Goa and Stylistic Analysis into the collective memory of what came to be known as
The cultural landscape of Old Goa is formative of the Goan Catholic, Indo-Portuguese or Indian Baroque (Pereira
churches inspired from the Renaissance style from Europe 1995). The traditions and rituals associated with the built
and is uniform across the early churches of the era (Guido extend in the intangible heritage and practices till date, thus
2008); the interiors are influenced by the Baroque and making it a living heritage (Borges and Feldmann 1997).
Rococo styles being made with the local material of stones
and timber on the exterior. Basilica of Bom Jesus (also called
Borea Jezuchem Bajilika in the local Konkani dialect) located
on the south side of the Cidade is distinct as the cultural
influx is noticeable through the exposed masonry of the local
materials: laterite and basalt stone (Gomes 2011) (Fig. 4). The
gothic influences of the flying buttresses add to the imposing
facade of principle renaissance elements such as Ionic, Doric
and Corinthian columns on the respective floors. The interior
comprises the altar, belfry, sacristy and two chapels. The two-
storeyed structure draws heavily from the Baroque such as
the coffered barrel-vaulted roof, heavy ornamentation and
installation of the classical orders topped by Corinthian
capitals. The superstructure in the altar is supported with
the hammer-beam truss superstructure built in timber. In
addition, the strings of the Italian Renaissance influence can
also be connected with the sacred marble tomb of the saint
being commissioned by the Duke of Tuscany, the last Medici
ruler of Florence. Eminent artisans, such as Italian sculptor
Giovanni Foginni, were also involved in designing the tomb
Figure 1.4 Basilica of Bom Jesus (© Chatterjee, Sarmistha)
with precious stones infusing a holistic cultural ethos.

7
Open public spaces connected to religious buildings, residences etc.
8
Age of learning in the 14th–16th century Europe where classical architecture was revived, developed and inspired from the Greek and
Roman

©Author(s) 2021. This article

is published with open access at [Link] 81
Vol. 1, No. 1; July–December 2021
 Uzma Khan and Sarmistha Chatterjee, Conscious Urbanism, Vol. 1, No. 1, July–December 2021

The churches, being the institution of various religious Borges, C. J., and Feldmann, H. (1997). Goa and Portugal –
orders, have their customs and practices such as weddings, Their Cultural Links. Concept Publishing Company.
prayers, funerals, and special occasions such as St. Francis Chakrabarti, D. K. (2001). A History of Indian Archaeology
Xavier’s feast. from the Beginning to 1947. New Delhi: Munshiram
The surviving churches and convents in Goa are the Manoharlal.
Chapel of St. Catherine (1510), which was raised to the Disney, A.R. (2009). A History of Portugal and the Portuguese
status of a cathedral by Pope Paul III in 1534; the Church Empire: From Beginnings to 1807. Cambridge: Cambridge
and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi (1517; rebuilt in 1521 University Press.
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