Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Old Goa (India). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Basilica of Bom Jesus, Churches and convents of Goa, and Se Cathedral. Also, be sure to include Chapel of St. Catherine in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Old Goa (Goa).
Table of Contents
Basilica of Bom Jesus
UNESCO-listed Baroque Catholic church. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a Roman Catholic basilica located in the Goa state, situated in the Konkan region of India. It is both a pilgrimage centre and also the most iconic monument of all the churches and convents of Goa, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The basilica is located in Old Goa, former capital of Portuguese India, and holds the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier.
Bom Jesus (literally, "Good/ Holy Jesus" in Indo-Portuguese) is the name used for the Ecce Homo in countries of the Lusosphere. This Jesuit church is India's first minor basilica, and is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture and Portuguese Colonial architecture in India. It is one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World.
Pope Pius XII raised this sanctuary to the status of basilica via the Pontifical decree “Priscam Goae” on 20 March 1946. Signed and notarized by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini.[1]
Address: Old Goa, 403402 Panjim
Churches and convents of Goa
Churches and Convents of Goa is the name given by UNESCO to a set of religious monuments located in Goa Velha, in the state of Goa, India, which were declared a World Heritage Site in 1986.
Goa was the capital of Portuguese India and Asia and an evangelization center from the sixteenth century. The justifications for the inclusion of religious monuments in Goa in the World Heritage List are: 1) the influence of the monuments in the dissemination of Western art forms – the Manueline styles, Mannerist and Baroque – throughout Asia where Catholic missions were established; 2) the value of the set of monuments of Goa as an exceptional example that illustrates the work of evangelization and 3) the specific value of presence in the Basilica of Bom Jesus of the tomb of Francisco Xavier, which illustrates a major world event: the influence of the Catholic religion in Asia in the modern era.[2]
Se Cathedral
Portuguese-built 16th-century cathedral. The Sé Catedral de Santa Catarina, known as Se Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and the seat of the Patriarch of the East Indies. It is part of the World Heritage Site, Churches and convents of Goa located in Old Goa, India.[3]
Address: Praça da Sé, 403402 Goa
Chapel of St. Catherine
The Chapel of St. Catherine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Old Goa in the same compound as Se Cathedral and the Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi. It was built in 1510 in the Baroque architectural style, and has a brown and white facade. It faces the Mandovi River and is part of the World Heritage Site, Churches and convents of Goa. The chapel is not functional.[4]
Museum of Christian Art
The Museum of Christian Art, in the former colonial capital of Old Goa, is a museum of Christian art. It is currently closed for a renovation and refurbishment project.
The Museum which was initially set up to display these unique works of art, evolved over the years into a space focused on creating awareness on conservation and restoration of art and architecture through various activities and collaborations. Noteworthy among these are the restoration of the 17th. Century, State protected monument, The Church of Santa Monica and conservation of the Museum’s collection.[5]
Address: Annexe, Convent of Santa Monica, 403402 Goa Velha
St. Cajetan Church
Catholic church in India. St. Cajetan Church, also known as the Church of Divine Providence, is a church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman located in Old Goa. The church was completed in 1661 and is part of the World Heritage Site, Churches and convents of Goa.[6]
Address: Divar Ferry Rd., 403402 Goa
Church of St. Augustine
Church of St. Augustine is a ruined church complex located in Old Goa. The church was completed in 1602 and is part of the World Heritage Site, Churches and convents of Goa.[7]
Address: Kadamba Road, Old Goa
St. Francis of Assisi church
Catholic church in India. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi was built in 1661 by the Portuguese in the Portuguese Viceroyalty of India. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi, together with a convent, was established by eight Portuguese Franciscan friars who landed in Goa in 1517. It is part of the World Heritage Site, Churches and convents of Goa.[8]
Address: North Goa District, 403402 Panjim
Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Old Goa, India. It is one of the oldest churches in the city and was built between 1510 and 1519. The construction of the church was ordered by Afonso de Albuquerque, the governor of Portuguese India, immediately after the Portuguese conquest of Goa in 1510. The chapel was completed in 1519.
The chapel is located on a hill overlooking the Mandovi river, and is not easily accessible. It was built using laterite stone and the architectural style is Baroque with Mannerist influences. Every year in November, the chapel courtyard plays host to the popular Monte Music Festival.
Until 2001, the chapel was in ruins. A restoration project was then planned and funded by the Fundação Oriente, an organisation that maintains cultural links of Goa and Damaon with Portugal, in association with the state government.[9]
Church of Our Lady of the Rosary
Catholic church in India. The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is a Catholic church built between 1544 and 1547, in Old Goa, State of Goa, India. This church is part of the collection belonging to the World Heritage Site of churches and convents of Goa.[10]
Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery
Museum. Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery was set up in 1964, NS reorganised in 1981–82. It is run by the Government of India's Archaeological Survey of India and is situated in the former Portuguese colonial capital of Old Goa, a historic one-time city which now attracts a large number of tourists.[11]