Ground floors along the river at Britona are damp underfoot for a good part of the year, and that single fact settles most carpet questions here. Fitted carpet laid on such a floor will smell; loose rugs that can be picked up, turned and dried will not. Polypropylene and other synthetics shed moisture best, and there are flat-woven versions that pass for natural fibre. Avoid anything with a rubber or latex back. Upstairs is different: the breeze keeps first-floor rooms drier, and a wool rug is reasonable in a bedroom that looks over the water. In the newer villas, living rooms are big, so order the rug large enough to hold the whole seating group.
- Ground-floor rooms of old riverside houses: loose synthetic rugs without rubber backing, lifted now and then so the floor can dry.
- Upper-floor bedrooms with river views: wool or cotton rugs, placed back from the window where the reflected sun is strongest.
- Living rooms in new villas: one large rug under all the seating, with wall-to-wall carpet reserved for an air-conditioned bedroom.
Penha de Franca is the village of Britona and its neighbourhood on the north bank of the Mandovi, opposite Panjim. Its white church stands right on the water where the Mapusa river joins the Mandovi, and the riverside road has old houses and newer homes with river views.
Riverside houses and villas look across the water to Panjim and Chorão. Many are old family homes; others are new builds placed for the view. Windows facing the river are large.
The river brings humidity, glare off the water and a steady breeze. Mosquitoes are a problem at dusk near the mangroves. Salt is slight.
Riverside and backwater homes
Ground floors near water are damp underfoot in the monsoon. Use rugs that can be lifted and dried, not fitted carpet, and avoid rubber-backed rugs that trap moisture against the floor.
Old Goan houses
Old tiled and stone floors are part of the house, so use rugs, not fitted carpet. A dhurrie or a Persian-style rug suits the furniture, with an underlay so it does not slip on polished tiles.
