One of the great Portuguese families branched out into the colonies, and the Braganza House is proof of this, now considered haunted. Could this have something to do with a family curse that once plagued the Braganza Family?
Braganza House is a magnificent yet disturbing relic of the past in Chandor Village, Goa, India. This stately residence near the Church Square in Chandor, built over 350-500 years ago, is a testament to the splendor and grandeur of Portuguese colonial architecture with its Italian marble vintage chandelier from Europe and carved rodewood furniture.
Behind the ornate facades, private library and family portraits lies a history steeped in tragedy, mystery and, according to some who come out of the manor, paranormal activity. This makes it one of the most haunted places in Goa.
A Glance at History
The Braganza House, a sprawling mansion divided into two wings, in which the family is divided into two different branches, was built by the wealthy Braganza family, who were prominent Portuguese nobles. The house was built many centuries ago when Goa was under Portuguese rule.
The east wing of the mansion belongs to the descendants of the Pereira-Braganza family, while the west wing belongs to the Menezes-Braganza family. The house is known for its stunning collection of antiques, vintage furniture and artifacts that reflect the wealth and status of the family during Portuguese times.
The tragic end of the Braganza family
The history of the mansion is interwoven with tales of power, betrayal and sadness. One of the most notable events is the tragic story of a youthful woman from the Braganza family who allegedly committed suicide in one of the mansion's lavish rooms.
There aren't many details about who she was or why. Some local gossip claims that she was the daughter of the master of the house and fell in love with a servant, a relationship her father didn't approve of. He then killed her lover when they tried to escape, and she took her own life shortly after.
Her untimely death became the cornerstone of the haunted reputation that surrounds Braganza House. Her spirit is said to reside in the room where she died, a place now shrouded in a haunting aura.
The Phantom Woman of the House of Braganza
Today, the Archaeological Survey of India has opened the house to the public as a museum. Both visitors and locals have reported numerous disturbing encounters and unexplained phenomena at Braganza House. The most common story is that a descendant gives tours of the house.
Many who have ventured into the room report feeling an inexplicable sense of sadness and despair. Some have reported seeing the ghostly figure of a woman dressed in customary Portuguese garb, with a pale and gloomy face, drifting through the mansion's corridors.
Flickering candles, sudden drops in temperature, and the sound of pliable sobbing are just some of the paranormal phenomena attributed to her restless spirit.
It is worth noting that while there are few details and very few sources stating who this woman was, why, or even which room is now haunted, the Braganza name is worth noting. If it weren’t for the family that owned the house, one could almost dismiss the story as mere gossip, but according to myth, the Braganza family has supposedly been cursed for centuries.
The Curse of the Braganza Family
Adding to the house’s haunted legacy is the alleged curse that supposedly plagues the House of Braganza. The Braganza family, once a symbol of nobility and power and rulers of Portugal and its colonies for centuries, is considered cursed due to a series of unfortunate events that befell its members over the centuries.
The curse is said to have originated in the 17th century during the reign of John IV of Portugal. He is said to have kicked a Franciscan friar who was begging for alms. Because of this transgression, the friar placed a curse on his family, saying that no firstborn male in his family would live to ascend the throne.
This act condemned the family line to a cycle of misfortune and sorrow. From then on, without three exceptions, all firstborn males in the family died before they took the crown.
Braganza House in Goa
So could this curse have anything to do with the haunting rumors that seem to circulate as whispers outside of the main conversation? Although the curse and its female spirit counterpart seem unlikely.
King John VI seemed adamant about ending the curse and made annual visits to Franciscan monasteries in Portugal and Brazil. However, it is said that it first ended with the rule of the Braganzas in the early 1900s.
The Braganza House is a attractive reminder of a bygone era, but it is also a poignant reminder of the tragedies and mysteries that continue to fascinate and terrify those who dare to cross its obscure boundaries.
Bibliography:
Enter at your own risk: The scariest places in Goa
Curse of Braganzas – Wikipedia
Luis de Menezes Bragança – Wikipedia Goa Colonial Houses – Braganza House, Chandor
Image Source: Pixabay.com
