[ Edit ] Overview

The Churches and Convents of Goa ("Old Goa"), built during 16th and 17th century AD, are the lasting legacy of the Portuguese rule in India and are amongst the primary attractions for tourists to Goa.

Goa Dourada ("Golden Goa" or now "Old Goa") was once the capital for the Portuguese, and a vast city with more than 30,000 inhabitants.  In the 16th century, it attracted a vast number of missionaries, soldiers, and traders and the significant wealth led to the creation of a thriving city.   By the mid-18th century, however, as a result of a series of epidemics, and the silting up of the Mandovi River, the Viceroy of the Colony chose to move out of Old Goa and establish his capital in Panaji (Panjim).  As a result, decline set in and by the mid-19th century, the city was finally abandoned.  

While a mere shadow of its former self, Old Goa today is home to Goa's most significant monuments - its churches and cathedrals. Architectural masterpieces, and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the churches remain of immense historical importance and are considered to be among Goa's most significant monuments.

A 1.5 km stretch walk through this World Heritage Site, marks a magnificent complex of churches and cathedrals built during 16th to 17th century in Old Goa and include of the following:

1. Sé Cathedral
2. Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi
3. Chapel of St. Catherine 
4. Basilica of Bom Jesus
5. Church of Lady of Rosary 
6. Church of St. Augustine

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Visitor Quick Facts

[ Edit ] Famous For

The Churches and Convents of Goa are famous for:

• The grandest and most beautiful Christian churches in Asia. 

• Being recognised as World Heritage Sites (UNESCO)

• Housing the mortal remains of Saint Francis Xavier 

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[ Edit ] Location

Goa, India

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[ Edit ] Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Goa is between the months of September to March.  

However, the monsoon rains offer a unique charm to the Goa experience (July - August) and are also attractive months to visit Goa.

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[ Edit ] Days of Operation

The Churches and Convents are open on all the days throughout the year (inclusive of all public, state, and national holidays)

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[ Edit ] Hours of Operation

Open from: 8.30 A.M to 5.30 P.M – Church complex

Sunrise to sunset - other monuments

For Service timings, please refer to Other Information.

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[ Edit ] Entry Charges & Fees

There are no fees for entering / visiting any of the churches.

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Historical Quick Facts

[ Edit ] Type

Heritage

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[ Edit ] Architecture

Designed by Portuguese and Italian Architects, the style of architecture ranges from European Renaissance to Baroque and Portuguese Manueline.

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[ Edit ] Construction Period

The churches in Old Goa were built during the 16th and 17th centuries.  

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[ Edit ] Built By

The churches were built by Portuguese colonisers and missionaries.

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[ Edit ] History

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[ Edit ] Myths or Facts

Myths and facts about the Churches and Convents of Goa:

• The Goa Inquisition was a period in time wherein the Portuguese actively converted Hindus, or “infidels”, into Christianity through the use of force.  The process started with the arrival of Jesuit priests in Goa in 1560.  In 1567, Hinduism as a religion was formally banned in Goa and Hindu temples were destroyed and ceremonies were banned.  Over the course of the next 200+ years, Hindus were either forcibly converted or locked away in dungeons of the “Palace of the Inquisition” to await the Auto da Fe (“Acts of Faith”) trial.  During the course of 200+ years, over 16,000 trials were held and many thousands were killed.  It wasn’t until 1812, that the Inquisition was formally dissolved.   

• Francis Xavier arrived in India at the behest of the King of Portugal (Dom Joao III) in 1542 at the age of 36.  He is believed to have worked tirelessy to covert over 30,000 people to Christianity.  His legend grew following his death in 1552 while at sea on a voyage to China and was temporarily buried on an island.  When his body was dug up 3 months later to transfer his bones back to Goa, it was discovered that it had not begun decomposing.  Even a year later, when his remains were enshrined at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, his body continued to remain in immaculate condition with no signs of decay.  This was declared a miracle.  He was canonized in 1622 and granted Sainthood.  St. Francis Xaviers remains can still be seen at the Basilica.

• The Duke of Tuscany, who gave the money for the elaborate tomb of St. Francis Xavier at the Basilica de Bom Jesus asked for the pillow that lay under the Saint’s head in exchange. The tomb took over 10 years to build and was finally completed in 1698.

• The Basilica de Bom Jesus has a giant stone tablet on the top tier of the façade of the main entrance with the letters IHS inscribed on it.  They represent the Jesuit motto, Iaeus Hominum Slavator, which in Greek means “Jesus our Saviour”.

• The existence of a well at the Church of St. Cajetan has led to speculation that the site was once the location of a Hindu temple.

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[ Edit ] Architecture And Structural Description

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[ Edit ] Things To See

A 1.5 km stretch walk through this World Heritage Site in Old Goa, marks a magnificent complex of churches and cathedrals built during 16th to 17th century.  They include the following:

1. Basilica de Bom Jesus:  Bom Jesus is considered to be amongst the grandest and most beautiful Churches in Asia.  Renowned throughout the Catholic world, this cathedral is India's first Minor Basilica - a status granted to it in 1946 by Pope Pius XII, and is considered as one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India. The name Bom Jesus basically means "good Jesus" or "infant Jesus".  

Built in 1594 by Jesuits, the Basilica of Bom Jesus has a three tiered façade and is one of the richest churches in Goa.  It is made of black granite with an elaborately carved façade that is part Doric and part Corinthian in design and style. It is the only Goan church that is not covered in lime plaster.  The interiors are carpeted with marble flooring and inlaid with valuable and rare gems and stones and elaborate frescoes. Much of the interior walls and ceiling of the Church are simply decorated.  However, the structured gilded altars made out of wood, stone, gold and granite and ceiling, are richly adorned and decorated. The Church also has paintings of St. Francis Xavier.

The Bom de Jesus Church contains the body of St. Francis Xavier, a member of the Society of Jesus, who came to India with the Portuguese to spread Christianity in India.  The body, in a remarkably good state of preservation, is displayed to the general public every 10 years on December 2 (his death-anniversary).  The Saint is believed to have miraculous powers of healing.  The mausoleum of St. Francis Xavier was the gift from the Grand Duke of Tuscany and is a marvel of Italian art (the marble base) and Hindu craftsmanship (the silver casket). His body is encased in an airtight glass coffin positioned in the silver casket that was crafted by a 17th century Florentine sculptor, Giovanni Batista Foggini.   

2. Church of St. Cajetan: In the 17th century, Pope Urban III sent Italian Friars to Golconda (Andhra Pradesh).  However, they were refused entry and then decided to settle in Goa.  These friars erected the church dedicated to Our Lady of Divine Providence in 1651  However, they named the church after the founder of their Theatine order, Saint Cajetan. The church is now recognised for its stunning and intricate woodcarvings on its high altar and pulpit.   Located 1/2 km from the Sé Cathedral, the church is designed along the lines of St. Peter's church in Rome.  Architecturally, with its distinctive dome, the church is Corinthian both externally and internally.  

The church is renowned for its exhuberant carvings and golden altars built in delicate Baroque style. The St. Cajetan Church building is built of laterite blocks and plastered with lime.  The largest of the altars on the right hand side of the church is dedicated to St Cajetan. There is an adorned wooden pulpit emerging from one of the piers.  

The St. Cajetan Church is believed to have been used only by the Portuguese ruling class and priesthood.  

3. Sé Cathedral / St. Catherine's Cathedral: While the Sé Cathedral is Asia's largest, it had a humble beginning starting as a small chapel built of mud and straw.  It is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria on whose feast day in 1510, Alfonso Albuquerque defeated Adil Shahi's Muslim army and gained control of Goa for Portugal. As such, this church is also referred to as St. Catherine's Cathedral.

Construction of the Sé Cathedral began in 1562, when the King of Portugal ordered that a church be built that was worthy of his mighty empire, and was substantially completed by 1619. The Church was finally consecrated in 1640.   The Sé Cathedral measures 250 ft in length by 181 ft in breath and is Portuguese-Gothic in style with a Tuscan exterior and Corinthian interior.  There were originally two towers on either side of the facade of the church.  However, one of them plummeted in 1776 and it was never rebuilt.  The Church is famous for its five massive bells and in the sole remaining tower hangs the "Golden Bell", one of the largest in Goa, and known for melodic tones which rang to indicate the dreaded Auto de Fe trials, held in front of the Cathedral, during the Inquisition.

While the exterior of the cathedral is notable for its plainness of style, the interior of Sé Cathedral can be overwhelming for its grandeur.  There are 15 altars in the church, the most attractive of which is the main altar dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. Panel paintings on either sides of the altar portray scenes from her life and martyrdom.  The principal chapel is large and ornamented with engraved pillars and pilasters. The images of Senhora d’Esperanca (Our Lady of Hope), Christ crucified and St. Catherine stands in the centre with statues of St. Peter and St. Paul on either side. On the right of the nave, is the screened Chapel of the Cross of Miracles. 

4. Church and Convent of St. Francis de Assisi: Situated in the same complex as the Sé Cathedral, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi is one of Goa's most important churches.  It was completed by the Franciscan friars in 1521, demolished and re-built on the same spot in 1661 only maintaining the beautifully carved doorway of the earlier church.  The architecture is a blend of the Tuscan style on the outside and the Mosaic-Corinthian style on the inside.  It is smaller than the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Sé Cathedral but nevertheless a beautiful church.

The inside of the church is beautifully decorated with the scenes from the Bible and wall carvings show intricate floral designs.   The painting on the ceiling near the doorway has a unique Indian feel to it.  The beautiful gilded main altars depicts the crucified Jesus, four evangelists, St. Francis, and Our Lady with the Baby Jesus.   

5. Archaeological Museum (Convent of St. Francis de Assisi):  Once one of Goa's largest monasteries, the Convent of St. Francis de Assisi, built in 1571, is now an Archaeological Museum. The Museum was established in 1964.  Among the objects of interest at the Museum are a huge bronze statue of Alfonso de Albequerque that stands in the entrance hall, carved images of various Hindu gods including Lords Vishnu and Surya (Sun God) that date back to the Kadamba period (11 - 12th century rulers of Goa prior to the arrival of the Portuguese), and a model of Sao Gabriel, the ship in which Vasco da Gama sailed to India in 1498.  There are also 60 portraits of various Viceroys and Governors of Goa in the gallery on the first floor.

6. Church and Convent of St. Augustine:  Once the largest church in India, with a five storey facade, the gothic style St. Augustine Church now lies in ruins.  The convent was constructed by 12 Augustinian friars in 1572 AD immediately after their arrival in Goa. The church was subsequently constructed in 1602.

The church remained in good condition till 1835 when it was abandoned because of the ban on Augustinian religious order by the Portuguese government. The vault of the church collapsed in 1842 AD and the façade in 1931. Excavations begun in 1989 revealed eight chapels, four altars, and more than a 100 granite tombstones.  According to historic descriptions, the St. Augustine Church also had grand staircases, a viewing gallery, and a library that rivalled the one at Oxford.   

Only a portion of the bell tower remains standting today. The bell from the Church was taken to the Fort Aguada Light House in 1841 and subsequently moved to teh Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at Panaji in 1871 where it continues to function even today.

7. Church of Our Lady of the Rosary:  Sitting on top of the western side of the Holy Hill or Monte Santo, the Church of Lady of Rosary overlooks the Mandovi river and Divar Island.  The location is supposedly the very place where Alfonso de Albuquerque led his troops to victory in 1510. A church, entrusted to the care of Franciscans, was built here in 1543.  

The façade of the church has castle-like turrets and simple altar painted with baskets of flowers, and is considered to be an example of Goa's earliest Portuguese Manueline-style of churches. The interior is simple and has five altars. The main altar bears the image of Nossa Senhora de Rozario or Our Lady of the Rosaryonte

St. Francis Xavier is believed to have taught catechism here every evening to the public who flocked together at the sound of a little bell he rang.  The tombstone of Garcia de Sa, one of the earlier Governors of Goa lies in front of the altar.  Finally, Dona Catarina, the wife of Garcia de Sa (the Viceroy of Goa from 1548 to 1549), and the first Portuguese woman to migrate to Goa, has her tomb at this church. 

8. Adil Shah’s Palace:  The Portuguese acquired Goa following a successful war against Adil Shah – founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty which ruled from Bijapur.  Not much is left from the time of Adil Shah’s rule of Goa.  His palace, referred to as Adil Shah’s Palace was used as the Viceroy’s Residence from 1554 to 1695 and during the inquisition, the palace came to be known as the “Palace of the Inquisition” where non-believers were imprisoned / dungeoned.  Today, all that is left of Adil Shah’s palace is the Gateway – comprising of steps, basalt pillars and a beam.  The palace is located close to the Viceroy’s Arch and the Church of St. Cajetan.

9. Viceroy's Arch:  During the 17th century, when over a 1,000 ships a year came to Goa, every visitor passed through this Arched Gate to enter the city (what is now Old Goa).  The laterite gateway was built by the Viceroy - Francisco Gama (1597 - 1600) in honor of his great grand father, Vasco da Gama..

10. The Chapel of St. Catherine: 

11. Church and Convent of St. John of God:

12. Convent of St. Monica: 

13. Royal Champe of St. Anthony: 

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[ Edit ] Nearby Attractions

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[ Edit ] Other Information

Service Schedule & Timings:

Sé Cathedral:

• Monday to Saturday: 7:20 am and 6:00 pm
• Sunday:  7:20 am and 4:00 pm

Basilica de Bom Jesus:

• Monday to Saturday: 7:00 am and 8:00 am
• Sunday:  8:00 am and 9:15 am

Please note that all services are performed in Kokani - the local language.

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