Velhas Conquistas
As Velhas Conquistas or "the Old Conquests" are a grouping of the areas in Goa which were incorporated into the Portuguese East Indies in the early half of the sixteenth century AD; these would later come to be known as Estado da India (Portuguese India). Goa and Damaon comprised the last remaining possessions in India. Macao & Timor Leste were administratively separated from Goa and Damaon.
Over the course of nearly five centuries of European rule, these areas underwent urbanisation and they were elevated to concelhos (municipalities), with the administrative centre at Velha Goa. Having been acquired in 1510 AD or within the next few years, they formed the oldest parts and the core of Portuguese Goa & remain the central theme in the history, geography, and culture of present-day Goa and Damaon. The Novas Conquistas or New Conquests are the outer periphery of Goa, surrounding Velha Conquistas and bordering the erstwhile British India. In Damaon, the New Conquests included Silvassa exclave of Damaon, Diu & Silvassa territory. Novas Conquistas of present-day Goa shares borders with the Konkan division under Maharashtra's supremacy; also with Belgaum & North Canara districts of Carnataca.
The three concelhos of the territory are Bardes, Ilhas de Goa (Tiswadi) & Salcette (present-day Salcette and Mormugao talukas). When writing postal addresses, Velhas Conquistas is abbreviated to "VC".
Technically and historically the enclaves of Damaon and Dio district which were settled by the Portuguese in 1523 AD are also part of the Old Conquests, however in layman's terms and contemporary contexts Velhas Conquistas is taken to mean the westernmost and central portions of Goa, particularly the environs and neighbouring towns of the centuries-old city and capital of Ponnje. The Old Conquests are also the most socio-economically developed areas of Goa.