The experience
You'll work alongside Antonieta in Fontainhas, Panjim's colorful Latin quarter, mixing slaked lime with crushed shell and her own jaggery-bael binder recipe. Over three days she'll show you how to apply and smooth this breathable plaster onto a laterite wall, layer by layer, the same way it's been done here for centuries. A walk through the quarter afterward lets you spot the technique on the very houses that inspired it.
Why this matters
Lime plaster lets laterite walls breathe and resist Goa's monsoon humidity in ways cement never can, and the skill is essential to any authentic restoration of the region's heritage architecture.
Cultural background
Traditional Goan lime plastering, known locally as chuna work, uses slaked lime mixed with crushed shell and organic binders to finish laterite walls, producing a breathable surface that suits Goa's humid coastal climate.
Meet the practitioner
We're still verifying a practitioner for this experience — check back soon.
Schedule
Day 1
Introduction to slaking lime and mixing traditional binders
Day 2
Hands-on application on a laterite test wall
Day 3
Finishing and smoothing, followed by a Fontainhas walking tour
Difficulty
Moderate — hands-on plaster work over multiple days
Age suitability
16 and up
Gallery
Slaking lime in a traditional pit
Antonieta smoothing a plastered wall
Fontainhas facades in lime-washed colorPhotographs from this experience will replace these panels once available.
Included
- Lime, shell and binder materials
- Daily hands-on instruction with the plasterer
- Walking tour of Fontainhas's lime-plastered facades
Not included
- Flights to Goa
- Accommodation
- Meals
Before you arrive
- · Wear old clothes, lime plaster stains and splashes
- · Bring gloves, lime can be harsh on skin
- · Closed-toe shoes recommended for the worksite
Frequently asked
Is lime plaster safe to work with?
Yes with gloves and guidance, though slaked lime can be irritating to bare skin, which Antonieta explains on Day 1.
Will I see real heritage buildings using this technique?
Yes, Day 3 includes a walking tour of Fontainhas's lime-plastered heritage houses.
What people say
“Antonieta's knowledge of old recipes for the plaster mix was fascinating — jaggery in a wall binder, who knew.”
Farah H. · 5/5
“Messy, hands-on, and genuinely educational about why these old houses have lasted so long.”
Leo G. · 4/5
Not a sight to see — a practice to enter.