Inside Braganza House, Chandor
Braganza House was built over the 17th and 18th centuries and divided into two wings for two branches of the family. Its façade of more than 20 windows runs along one side of Chandor's square, and the rooms behind it hold three centuries of accumulated furniture, portraits, porcelain and books. The house is still owned and lived in by the family.
The west wing, of the Menezes Braganza family, is the grander, with a ballroom of Italian marble floors, Belgian mirrors and chandeliers, carved rosewood furniture and a library of several thousand books collected by Luís de Menezes Bragança, a journalist and campaigner of the early 20th century. The east wing, of the Braganza Pereira family, is more intimate, with a family chapel containing a relic said to be a fingernail of St Francis Xavier.
Visits are by donation, and you will usually be shown round by a family member or caretaker. We confirm the visit the day before and arrive at a quiet hour, so the house can be seen without other groups.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is Braganza House open to visitors?
Yes, both wings have generally been open to visitors during the day, with visits by donation and shown by family members or caretakers. Timings vary and the house is a private home, so we confirm in advance. Check current status before you travel.
How much does it cost to visit Braganza House?
There is no fixed ticket. Visitors make a donation to each wing toward the upkeep of the house. Your guide can suggest an appropriate amount. The donation goes to the families, who maintain the house largely at their own expense.
How long does a Braganza House visit take?
About 45 minutes for each wing, so 90 minutes for both. Add time for Chandor's church and village square, and for the nearby Fernandes House if you wish. A half day is enough for Chandor alone.
Also in Chandor, Loutolim and the Salcete mansions
More hours to plan around
