Fontainhas (Latin Quarter)

Fontainhas is one of the most charming places to visit in Panaji, a heritage quarter of painted Portuguese-era houses. Here is how to explore it on foot.

Fontainhas is the old residential quarter of Panaji, Goa's capital, often called its Latin Quarter. It lies at the foot of Altinho hill, bounded by Ourem creek, and takes its name from the springs ('fontes') that rise there. The area developed from the late 18th and 19th centuries, and its narrow, winding lanes are lined with Portuguese-style houses painted in yellow, blue, green and ochre, with red-tiled roofs, overhanging balconies and oyster-shell windows.

Many families still live here, alongside small guesthouses, cafés, bakeries and art galleries. The Chapel of St Sebastian, built in 1818, stands at the southern end of the quarter; it houses a large crucifix that once hung in the Palace of the Inquisition in Old Goa, and it is the focus of a neighbourhood feast. Fontainhas is a declared heritage area, and the best way to see it is on foot, either independently or with a guided heritage walk offered by local operators.

It is walking distance from central Panaji and the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. There is no fee to walk the streets. Remember that these are private homes: do not enter courtyards or photograph residents without permission, and keep noise down, especially in the evening.