Fontainhas

Goa was colonized by the Hindus, Muslims, and Portuguese, the latter leaving the biggest influence here, by far, which is clearly evident in Fontainhas. Fontainhas was founded in the late 18th century by a wealthy Portuguese named Antonio Joao de Sequeira. He used this land for coconut plantations. But, in the early 1800s, due to the spread of epidemic in the Old Goa, the Portuguese government headquarters was shifted to Panjim. As a result, this area was transformed into the residential area for Portuguese administrative officers and rulers. In 1984, UNESCO recognized Fontainhas as a Heritage Zone.A common visual reminder of Portuguese remnants here are the houses and cottages built in colonial architecture and painted in fluorescents and pastels. In addition to that, the names of the narrow cobbled streets can also be traced back to the Portuguese time in Goa, for instance, Rua 31 de Janeira (31st January Road) is named after the day when Portugal got independence from Spain on January 31, 1640 and 18th June Street is named after the day in 1946 that marked the beginning of the end of Portuguese rule in the country.