AS FEATURED IN
WELCOME TO THE FIRST HOUSE
2 ACRES | 10 BEDROOMS | 125 YEARS OF HISTORY
The First House is a plush Portuguese colonial home, originally built in 1896, tucked away in the idyllic village of Saligao. Set on 2 acres of serenity where refined elegance meets total relaxation, step into a world of luxury and comfort where you can enjoy special moments with family and friends.
This is one of Goa’s few 10 bed villas, built on one single property. Since we value privacy, The First House is sold as a Single Key Villa, where you can be assured that you will be celebrating your holiday with your near and dear ones exclusively.
THE VILLA
This charming 10 bedroom villa has been meticulously renovated by Ayaz Basrai of The Busride Studio and the interiors have a sense of grandeur while retaining the simplicity and warmth of a home to suit the taste of the discerning traveler.
The interiors feel timeless, combining an old world allure with modern amenities.
It has high ceilings, tastefully furnished and air-conditioned en suite rooms, with large verandas, abundant natural light, lots of open spaces and gardens adorned with flowers and trees, giving the perfect balance between relaxing Goan-Portuguese culture and contemporary luxury.
CURATED EXPERIENCES
No request is too much and no detail too small. Connect with our team to make your memories special.
Staying at The First House is all about celebrating life and it’s moments – no matter how small or big they are. We have the perfect setting to host your special celebrations.
GALLERY
HISTORY
About The First House
The then Portuguese Consul to the British colony of Aden (now a part of Yemen), Luis Jose de S. Lourençe Mendonca, built the original house on the property called “Canteira” (meaning flower beds) in 1896. The family continued living in the house till 1996.
In 2004, it was sold to Darryl Pereira, who seeing the overgrown and neglected structure, decided to restore and renovate it using elements of Indo-Portuguese architecture.
In 2020, the house was sold to Rakhee and Rakesh Shah, who had moved to Guirim, Goa from Mumbai. They shared the same passion for the Goan house and instantly fell in love with the property.
They put in a lot of effort to renovate it and bring it up to standards of a luxury villa with all the mod cons, whilst retaining its original splendour and charm.
About Saligao
The Portuguese modified the original name of the village from Salgaon to Saligao. Sal meaning wooded forest and gao meaning village and Saligao, being a wooded village with an abundance of fruit bearing trees and various other plants.
It is one of the more prosperous villages of Goa, owing to the business acumen of its early settlers. The architectural aesthetics of Saligao today reflect the creative style of some of the renowned artists of Goa who have chosen to live a splendid village lifestyle.
ABOUT US
The Villa Escape (www.thevillaescape.com), a bespoke travel company, curating luxury experiences, manages The First House exclusively. The depth of experience The Villa Escape Team brings in, will ensure that you and your guests have a superlative and seamless stay at The First House. They are with you every step of the way to ensure your getaway is nothing short of perfect.
LAYOUT
