Margao: Bazaars, Mansions and Culture

Margao combines a covered bazaar with a remarkable architectural history. Indo-Portuguese mansions, the Church of the Holy Spirit and Ana Fonte Garden reveal different sides of the city. When exploring Margao, you can focus on market visits, historic buildings or a walk through older neighbourhoods.

Bazaar and Walking Tour of Margao

At the covered bazaar, you can browse for souvenirs and shop at affordable prices. The selection may vary depending on the vendors and goods available. The market is a destination in its own right for anyone who wants to make time to browse while exploring the city.

The Margao Cultural Walk passes through older and especially picturesque parts of Margao, where grand Goan mansions stand. The tour combines a walking route with an impression of these distinctive neighbourhoods. As this is a bookable tour, check current availability before your trip.

Mansions and Historic Buildings

The House of Seven Gables was commissioned in 1790 by Sebastino da Silva, envoy and private secretary to the Portuguese viceroy. Three of the seven gables remain. The house is within walking distance of the Church of the Holy Spirit, whose present form was completed in 1675.

Indo-Portuguese mansions line Abade Faria Road and the area around the church square. This makes it possible to explore Margao’s architectural history at several named locations: the House of Seven Gables, along the road and around the square by the church. The historical details offer different points of reference, from the construction date of an individual house to the design of entire streets.

Another distinctive feature is Ana Fonte Garden, with footbridges and fountains in an oriental style. Damodar Sal, in turn, is a small private temple dedicated to Damodar.

Getting There and Choosing Accommodation

Margao is the terminus of the Konkan Railway. This is a useful reference point on the rail network; for specific connections, consult current railway information. When choosing a holiday apartment in Margao, it helps to consider in advance which part of the city matters most for your stay: the bazaar, the architectural history or the garden. Focus your accommodation search on the places that interest you, and check the location of each option against these priorities.

Cultural Sites in the Wider Salcete Destination

In the wider Salcete destination, the Goa Chitra Ethnographic Museum in Benaulim presents Goa’s agricultural heritage through mostly old farming tools and equipment. The museum is set against the backdrop of an ecological farm and aims to introduce visitors to traditional local implements.

Rachol Seminary is also among the cultural sites in the wider Salcete destination. It is located right beside the banks of the Zuari River, was built between 1574 and 1610, and is a centre for the study of philosophy and theology. Of Rachol Fort, mainly a ruin remains, with an archway over the road to the Seminary; a dried-up moat surrounds the seminary hill. The fort was built by the Bahmani Sultanate and later fell to the Vijayanagar kings after a prolonged, bloody battle.

Discover more destinations: Cola, Naquerim, Benaulim, Navelim, Moisal, Cuncolim, Loutolim, Curtorim.

Back to the wider travel guide: South Goa.