Saligao is a small town in Bardez Taluka in the Northern district of Goa. It is 10 kms from Panjim the capital of Goa, 6 km from Mapusa and 3 km from the Calangute beach. It is surrounded by the villages of Porvorim, Parra, Guirim, Sangolda, Pilerne, Candolim, Calangute and Nagoa and is in of Goa. People of various religions live together in harmony and unity. Saligao houses a population of nearly 5500 people.
It is well known for its 125 year old parish church of Mae de Deus, a very good example of Gothic architecture. People of saligao all over the world largely interconnected by family relationships come together as communities on the first Sunday of each year to celebrate the “Feast of Mãe de Deus” the Patron Saint of Saligao, held in Saligão, Goa that often includes traditional food, live music and dance. There are 3 educational institutes namely the Mater Dei Institute, Lourdes Convent High School and St. Mary’s Boys School.
Some of the places of interest in Saligao are the Hindu temples like Sharvani (near the Saligão spring, Salmona), Dattatriya, Laxmi Narayan and Vittal temple, Krist Raj Bhavan, home for the aged, run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King sisters. Mae de Deus home for the aged, run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King sisters, Mater Dei, one of Goa's first English language schools, at Bairo Alto. Started as St. Mary's in 1900, the name was later changed to Mater Dei in 1909.
