Palace of the Fortress (Portuguese: Palácio da Fortaleza), also known as the Palace of the Viceroys, was the principal viceregal residence and administrative edifice of the City of Goa, in present-day Goa, India. It stood on the banks of the Mandovi and developed from an ancient fort of the city. The complex included palace buildings that faced the Square of the viceroys as well as the Quay, and the Arch of the Viceroys, which was one of the principal gates to the city.
History Afonso de Albuquerque ordered the restoration of the old fort after the Portuguese conquest of Goa in 1510. The first captain of the city, Rodrigo Rebello, and subsequently the captains of the ships, used to live it. In 1554, Viceroy Pedro de Mascarenhas, finding it difficult to ascend the staircases of the Palace of the Sabaio transferred from there the government to the Palace of the fortress.
His successors continued to live there until 1695 when the Count of Vila Verde moved to Panelim on account of the epidemics that ravaged the city, although important state business continued there.José Nicolau da Fonseca, An Historical and Archæological Sketch of the City of Goa, Preceded by a Short Statistical Account of the Territory of Goa (Bombay: Thacker & Co., 1878), pp. 194–96, Internet Archive. The edifice fell partly into ruin and was demolished by order of the Council of the Public Treasury around the 1820s.
Architecture
In the course of a century and a half, during which it served as official residence to the viceroys of India Portuguesa, it was remodelled entirely in its aspects and dimensions, and is characterised as Late manueline in urban and architectural styles
The palace faced south, where a large square, called the Terreiro do Paço lied. From this square a large staircase led to a spacious hall, which was adorned with the pictures of the ships that set sail for India since the time of Vasco da Gama. This hall gave way to a larger one which was decorated with the life size portraits of all the viceroys and governors of the city. It was in this hall that the viceroy received ambassadors from India, held his council, and where took place all the important affairs of state. The palace had several other quarters; for the administrative functions of state as well for the lodgings of the Viceroy and also contained chapels, water reservoirs and a part of the royal treasury.
The Palace, in close proximity to the Quay of the viceroys, commanded a magnificent panorama of the river with its shipping and the Terreiro with all its bustling activity and was remarked for resembling the Royal Ribeira Palace of Lisbon.
Viceregal residence The viceroy of Goa lived in regal splendour and maintained in the palace, his court in a style which rivalled some of the greatest in the kingdoms of the east.
See also
Cidade de Goa Arch of the Viceroys
References