Easy escape to Goa's prettiest beaches
The village of Siolim is situated to the extreme North-West point of the taluka of Bardez, on the left bank of the Chapora river. Siolim is also the last 'bourgeois' village in the north of Goa. After crossing the Chapora with the ferry the villages are simpler, more rustic.
Siolim also provides the quickest escape to the unspoilt northern beaches, including Morjim, Mandrem and Arambol. It is very easy to get to Siolim, which is only 10 minutes from Mapuca and about 30 from Panjim. If you are familiar with Goa, you can find a map on this site showing where it is exactly.
The total population of Siolim is around 12,000, over two communidades - Siolim and Marna. It is surrounded by water and the forests of Marna. Siolim is situated about 10 kms north of Calagute, and 3 kms from Anjuna, just beyond the Siolim range after Vagator. This distance allows it to escape entirely from the tourism-led development of the hotels holiday homes and new constructions of the Calangute area while remaining close enough to benefit from restaurants and action of the Goa Resorts of Candolim, Baga, Anjuna and Vagator.
Siolim was one of the earliest places to come under the domination of the Portugese. In fact the first church in Siolim was built as early as 1568, and was only the fifth church built by the missionaries of the Society of St. Francis of Assisi in Bardez. The first one was that of Reis-Magos built on the right bank of the Mandovi, and thereafter those of Candolim, Nagoa, Salvador do Mundo.
Siolim claim to fame is however its church, St. Antony's. The people believe that the church was the site for two miracles. Of these, the second miracle which occured in 1600 AD is of great importance for the people of Goa, as it documented as having been witnessed by a large part of the population of the village.