Aldona: Churches, Bridges and River Landscape

Aldona brings together church and local history with a landscape shaped by the river, islands and bridges. The Franciscans, biblical murals and a village square with a statue offer cultural points of interest. Nearby, Corjuem Fort adds a rural landscape and a history of its own to this picture.

Church History and Imagery

The Franciscans founded Aldona as their seventh parish in Bardez. They began their pastoral work in Coimavaddo in 1569 and built Aldona’s original village church there. Inside St. Thomas Church Aldona are symbolic murals depicting scenes from the Bible. Both the early church history and the imagery are concrete cultural points of reference in the area.

Another historical account of the area concerns Sao Tome Church: it was built in 1596 on a plateau beside the Mapusa River. Its setting on the plateau by the river places this church within the landscape, while the story of the original village church leads to Coimavaddo. Together, these accounts offer different points of reference for understanding Aldona’s religious history and local connections.

Festivals with Different Calendar Dates

The Choranchem Fest, also called Robbers feast, is celebrated every year on 29 October. According to tradition, the feast of St. Thomas is held on the second Saturday after Easter. The two accounts use different points of reference in time: a fixed date in October and a date that depends on Easter. If you are planning your trip around a festival, it is worth checking the specific date.

Bridges, Islands and Place Names

Aldona is known for four bridges: three are in Corjuem and one in Calvim. The islands of Corjuem and Calvim-Ponolem also belong to Aldona. The distribution of the bridges and the island names provide concrete points of reference for finding your way around. If you are travelling with children, the names and different numbers can also be a starting point for talking together about the destination’s geography and history.

Corjuem Fort Across the River

Corjuem Fort is in Corjuem, on the opposite side of the Mapusa River from Aldona. It is therefore a separate point of reference across the river, not a place within Aldona. The fort is surrounded by Goa’s rural landscape; the area is suitable for a walk or photography. The landscape and history can be considered as two distinct reasons to explore the fort.

One historical account dates the construction of the fort to 1550 and reports that it was rebuilt by the Portuguese in 1705. It is said to have previously belonged to the Bhonsle rulers of Sawantwadi; during the viceroyalty of Caetano de Mello e Castro, it was incorporated into the Portuguese administration of Goa. This places the fort’s history within the context of changing rulers, without confusing it geographically with Aldona’s churches or village squares.

A Cultural Reference in the Village Square

A statue of Edward J Soares, the founder and headmaster of St. Thomas High School in Aldona, stands in Aldona’s Tinto village square. This adds a person connected with a local school to the area’s church and festival history. For families, the statue, murals and bridges can each provide a different conversation starter, without a single attraction having to define the trip.

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Aldona, the different themes can help you choose your destination: church art and history, local points of interest or the rural landscape around the fort. Consider which of these interests you want to shape your trip. That way, you can do more than simply compare attractions: you can make a more considered decision about whether Aldona’s blend of cultural points of interest and landscape suits your holiday plans.

Discover more destinations: Penha-De-Franca, Querim, Agaçaim, Vainguinim, Vagator, Arambol, Ponda, Baga.

Return to the main travel overview: North Goa.