Altars and Empires: The Forgotten Heritage of Daman

Daman is a town whose history is written into its walls, altars and sacred spaces. Taken by the Portuguese in 1559, it remained under their rule until 1961, leaving behind a complex architectural and cultural landscape shaped by centuries of religious life, artistic traditions and encounters between communities. Divided by the Damanganga River, Daman comprises two historic towns with distinctive architectural identities. Moti Daman sits within massive fortified walls, while Nani Daman is guarded by the Fort of St. Jerome. Within these historic precincts and beyond them stand churches, chapels and the remains of religious houses that preserve fragments of a past still relatively unfamiliar to wider audiences. At this MOG Sundays, art conservator and heritage researcher Clive Figueiredo invites us to explore Daman through the intersecting histories of architecture, Christian art and cultural exchange. The talk will take us through the Church of Bom Jesus, the intricate gilded woodwork of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, the remains of the Dominican monastery and the fortifications that shaped the town’s physical and historical character. Clive approaches these sites through the trained eye of a conservator and the curiosity of a heritage guide, drawing attention to the artistic details, material histories and architectural features through which the past continues to speak. His exploration also considers the historical connections between Daman and Goa, examining the cultural ties forged under Portuguese rule and the shared heritage that links these coastal regions. An art conservator certified by City & Guilds, London, Clive has spent the past four years leading visits to more than 100 heritage monuments across 50 villages in Goa under the banner of the Museum of Christian Art. Through his writing on Christian heritage and his Colva Chronicles project, which began as an effort to document the oral histories of Colva, he continues to bring lesser-known histories and heritage sites into public conversation. In October 2025, he led a group through the churches, chapels, monasteries and fortifications of Daman, an experience that informs this exploration. Join us for a morning of art, architecture and historical discovery, as we look beyond familiar monuments to understand how sacred spaces and fortified walls can illuminate the lives, beliefs and cultural encounters that shaped a place. Free Entry | RSVP compulsory Please WhatsApp your name to +91 7722089666 to register.