Mae De Deus Church , Figueiredo Mansion and the sleepy Hamlet of Loutolim : Goa in the Rains…Part 3

Last Updated on November 24, 2025 by admin

Click here to read my latest post on Goa about Divar Island and here for post about Purple Martini and Hosa .

As I said in my previous post about Divar Island in Goa, there is more to Goa than Beaches, Shacks and Super luxury hotels along the beach..

As we continue on our Trail of Secret and Hidden Treasures of Goa our next stop is the Mae De Deus church in Saligao. Mae De Deus means Mother of God
Now Saligao is just 10-15 minutes drive away from the c/c/b (Candolim / Calangute/ Baga ) belt of north goa which is the haunt of most tourists but very few people actually end up going to Saligao because there are no “known” tourist attractions there. It could be on a different planet for all practical purposes from the usual haunts of north goa.

Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Saligao village in Bardez, the Mae de Deus Church rises like a fairytale castle against the Goan landscape. With its Gothic spires and pristine white walls, this stunning structure is considered one of the finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in Goa. Built in 1873, this architectural marvel has been captivating visitors for over 150 years with its dramatic silhouette and spiritual significance. What makes this church truly extraordinary is not just its striking exterior but the sacred treasure it houses within. The church contains a miraculous statue of Mae de Deus (Mother of God) brought from the ruins of the convent at Old Goa. This exquisitely gold-painted wooden statue has a fascinating journey of its own, having survived centuries before finding its permanent home in Saligao, where it continues to draw devotees seeking blessings and miracles.

The church is attractively illuminated at night, transforming it into a glowing beacon visible from afar—a sight that has become synonymous with Saligao itself. Whether you’re drawn by faith, fascinated by history, or simply seeking architectural beauty, the Mae de Deus Church offers a glimpse into Goa’s rich Portuguese-Catholic heritage set against the tranquil backdrop of village life.

I was supposed to meet someone outside the church and we were supposed to go to Chapora fort from there so I found the church and was waiting outside on the bench.

It was around 3 pm and some sort of service seemed to be going on, the sound of the chorus wafting out from the church was mesmerizing. I wanted to go inside to see the church, to listen to the angelic music but it was as if I was transfixed to the ground. To this day I wish I had stepped inside. In the end I settled for taking a short video and some pictures with my cellphone.

This is the video which I took standing there..

 

You can read about the origin and the History of the church here.

Entrance to the church grounds

Saligao is truly a typical goan village with lots of greenery and Portuguese style houses

The next stop on Hidden Trails of Goa is the Figueiredo House in sleepy village of Loutolim which is around 40 kms away from calangute and will take you around 90 minutes by car.

What is this Figueiredo House ? Who lives here? why travel from North Goa to South Goa for this ?

The Podiars were powerful Saraswat Brahmins    ( a caste in India ) who relocated from their native Sancoale
( South Goa ) in the 16th century, due to an outbreak of bubonic plague.
One part of the family settled in Shiroda ( in North Goa ), while the other moved to Loutulim and embraced Christianity, taking the surname Figueiredo.

• • The founder of the Loutulim branch was Manuel Vicente de Figueiredo. His descendant Vicente João de Figueiredo, a lawyer, built the new part of the house in the eighteenth century. His descendent, also Vicente João de Figueiredo, was a Lawyer, Judge in Ponda, a businessman and a member of The Portuguese Legislative Assembly.

• • Georgina Natália Filomena de Figueiredo, his daughter, practised law in Bombay and became the 1st Lady Judge of India. She returned to Goa by her father’s request to run the house and Estate, and became a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Goa.

• • Maria de Lourdes Figueiredo de Albuquerque, the youngest daughter and now the owner, became the first – and youngest – lady Member of Portuguese Parliament. She returned to Goa after 60 years abroad to maintain this house and to open it as a Museum in 2010.

• • Maria de Fátima Figueiredo de Albuquerque, her daughter, has also returned to Goa after decades abroad as an international executive, and has helped restore the house to its original splendour.
  • The family also counts a number of diplomats, ambassadors and administrators amongst their ranks. In the 19th century their prestige was such that the King of Portugal granted them a coat of arms.

The mansion also serves as a Homestay now with a few rooms and you can stay there or even just have lunch there with prior appointment

Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the main museum of the mansion and while I took a tour a private tour of the historical treasures , I could not take any pictures inside. Below are some of the pictures of  the parts that they allowed me to Photograph.

You can learn more about the house at its website here and also book your homestay or lunch.

Time of India has a very nice article on the 85 year old Lourdes Filomena Figueiredo de Albuquerque

My related posts

Goa in the Rains part 1 and

Goa in the rains part 2

Trikal ( literal meaning : Past ,Present, Future ) is an amazing movie by Shyam Benegal about an old portuguese family living in goa .You can watch it here with english subtitles, I highly recommend it..