MAPUÇÁ ANCIENT CITY OF GOA By Francisco Monteiro, Lisboa Portugal

Mapuçá is one of the oldest cities of Goa, retracing its establishment to the time of Marquês de Pombal. Mapuçá was the capital of the old province of Bardêz and today, of the district of the same name. It was categorised as a town by decree dated 14th September 1858 and by Order of the Governo-Geral dated 29th December 1933 established the administrative division of the Estado da India which raised its category to that of a city. The name Bardêz is derived from Bará-dês, signifying twelve (12) "dessaiados", or small feudal centers that after undergoing various dominations, came under the Portuguese State.

Since its early days, Mapuçá was the economic and commercial center due to its strategical localization; it is presently connected with the districts of Bicholim and Perném by tarred roads; it is also criss-crossed with diverse and numerous village roads. After its integration with the Portugiuese administration, the district of Bardêz received an influx of western culture through franciscan friars who founded the college-seminary of Reis Magos. It was through this college-seminary that the Portuguese language was spread throughout the district. It is also due to the franciscans that musical education was imparted in all parochial schools, from where genuine musical talent came out to distinguish itself within and outside of Goa.

One of the most pleasant localities of the city is the square and municipal garden "Mártires da República"; it is in this place that the population of the city come for their enjoyment and pastime. The Church of Mapuçá is one of the most artistic Christian temples of Goa, where the annual feast of Our Lady of the Miracles is celebrated, eho is venerated not only by the Christian faithful but also by Hindu worshippers who, according to an old legend, consider Our Lady of the Miracles as sister of the Goddesses "Leirai and Morzai". Since 1960, it had the most modern market within the whole of territory of Goa; this great effort had a great support from the Governor-General General Vassalo e Silva and from the office of the Estudos e Obras administered by captain Fangueiro; the city had outstanding hospital facilities the well-known ones being Hospital do Asilo as well as the private hospital run by Dr. Olavo Ribeiro and the Maternity Hospital run by Dr. Francisco Correia Afonso.

The Ataide Municipal Library was an institution that possessed a valuable number of publications and was attended by a large number of the population. There are a number of interesting buildings like Tribunal da Comarca and the old Liceu Municipal.

In 1960, a modern 'rotunda' was inaugurated to pay homage to a son of Goa - Manuel Antonio de Sousa – hero of Massangano. This monument was destroyed by the Pseudo-Liberators of Goa on the eve of the Invasion and occupation of Goa by the Indian troops.