Churches And Convents of Goa
The Goa has a Portuguese history and so the Portuguese culture. There are lots of churches and convents built by the Portuguese in their rule on Goa. Goa was the capital of Portuguese India and Asia from around 16th century. In 15th century the Muslim sultanate of Bijapur founded Goa as port on Mandovi River. In 1510 the Portuguese took Goa and established their empire.
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Portuguese people spread their Christian religion widely over the region and by the 16th century Goa was the center of the Christianization in east. They have built numerous Catholic religious buildings, churches, convents in Goa. That time Goa was know by the “Rome of the East”
In 16th and 17th century of Portuguese presence numbers of churches and monasteries were built and that populated the city and became admiration of the travellers who were travelling through Goa. These monuments or churches and convents of Goa are the Portuguese legacy and cultural exchange with India. Portuguese had made their buildings, designs, paintings, furniture with the help of local artist which has created the easy spread of their cultural things, The Basilica which is located in old goa holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier who was an influential early missionary across Asia (India, Japan, China).
Goa had a Portuguese rule over more than 451 years. It was taken under Indian constitution in 1961.Still Goa has Portuguese cultural influence and it can be recognized by the religious monuments of Goa. In 1961 UNESCO declared Goa as a World Heritage site. There lots of Churches And Convents of Goa are under UNESCO sites.
Churches And Convents of Goa
- 1.Church Of Our Lady Of The Rosary :
This is the oldest church of the Old Goa. It was built in 1544-1547 CE. This catholic Church looks like small castle and entrance porched in between small cylindrical towers with cupolas is a specialty of the late Gothic and Manueline Portugal of a Alentejo region. The church has the wall carved alabaster cenotaph in Persian Indian style with message carved in Portuguese “Aqui jaz Dona Catarina, mulher de Garcia de Sa, a qual pede a quem isto ler que peça misericórida a Deus para sua alma” which means the wife of Gracia de sa lies heres and those who read this asks mercy of God. Also there is grave of the of Garcia de Sá who was the Governor of India as a successor of he João de Castro and died in 1549 CE.
Church Timings : Monday to Sunday (9.00 AM to 5.00 PM)
Entry Fee :NO
Address : Fatorda Margao, Goa, 403602, India.
- 2.Basilica Of Bom Jesus :
This church is now a World Heritage Monument site and named in churches and convents of Goa list . It was built in 1594 to 1605. The Bom Jesus means the Good or infant Jesus. Bom Jesus church is coved with curved wooden liners as nave temple. There is only two chapel at transept area and no side chapels are there. The greatest thing the in Bom Jesus church is the chapel from 1655 where the remains of the Francisco Xavier in the silver urn and this urn is crafted by local Goan artist finely. The main chapel of the church has a golden altarpiece created in 1699. The fire in 1663 destroyed some of its long corridors and apartments but it was rebuilt in 1783. There is modern art gallery attached to the Basilica.It is one of the seven wonders of Portuguese Origin in the world as ranked in 2009.
Church Timings : Sunday (10.30 AM to 6.30 PM) (Monday to Saturday)
Entry Fee :NO
Address : Old Goa Road, Old Goa, Goa 403402, India
- 3.Se Cathedral :
This is most grand and impressive of all the churches at old Goa. This catholic church was founded in 1619. It has Portuguese-Gothic architecture style with Tuscan exterior and Corinthian interior. It is 76(250 feet) meters long and 55(181 feet) meters wide and front side is 35 (115 feet)high.
The largest bell in Goa and one of the best in the world is housed on Se Cathedral’s tower and because of its rich tone it is called as “Golden Bell”. There are several old paintings are there in this church.
Church Timings : (Sunday : 7.15 am to 10.00 am and 4.00 pm) (Monday to Saturday : 7.30 am and 6.00 pm)
Entry Fee :NO
Address : GW36+HV4, Old Goa, Goa 403402, India
- 4.Chapel of St. Catherine :
This church is in UNESO world heritage site. it was founded 514 years ago in 1510.It is built in Renaissance style architecture. There is statue of Our Lady in front when you enter the church. Pope Paul III granted this chapel a cathedral status in 1534. There are various artwork and paintings which describe the story of the St Catherine of Alexandria. Archeological Survey of India has protect this site and it is rarely open for the tourists or visitors.
Church Timings: Rarely open to visitors.
Entry Fee : NO
Address : GW36+953, Old Goa, Goa 403402, India
- 5.Church And Convent Of St. Francis Of Assisi :
This church with convent was built by the eight Portuguese Franciscan friars who came to goa in 1517. IT was built in 1661. This is built in laterite blocks with lime plaster. This west facing church has 3 chapels on either side and choir. Th convent of the church is now converted into a Archaeological Museum. There is statue of our lady which was bought from Sri Lanka. the main church built in 1521 was pulled down later and in 1661 it was built again on same spot by retaining the entrance of the old church.
Church Timings : 9 AM to 5 PM
Entry Fee : NA
Address : Off National Highway 4, Old Goa, Goa 403402, India
- 6.Church of St. Augustine :
This church was build in 1602. It was built on top of the Monte Santo by Augustinian friars who came to goa around 1587. This was one of the great Augustinian church with EL Escorial and Monastery of Sao Vincent de Fora. After Portuguese governments repressive religious order the church was abandoned in 1835 and due to negligence it was collapsed in 1842. The bell of the church was moved to Our lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Panjim and it is still there. By the 1938 slowly most of the church is collapsed and now the half of the tower remained. This is one of the most visited tourist place of Goa. Many of the famous Bollywood movies are filmed here.
Timings : Open All the time.
Entry Fee : NO
Address : Church of St. Augustine Ruins, Old Goa, Goa 403402, India
- 7.St. Cajetan Church :
The church construction was completed in 1661. The whole body of the church is plan of Greek cross.It is also called as the Church of Divine Providence. The church has unique large dome with Latin inscriptions on its inside. The main altar of the church is based on the one at Church of San Nicolo Verona and dedicated to our lady of Providence. There is well which is covered which shows that the site was of the Hindu temple.
Church Timings : Monday to Sunday : 9.00 AM to 7.00 PM
Entry Fee : NA
Address : GW48+62M, Old Goa, Goa 403402, India
- 8.The Reis Magos Church :
The Reis Magos Church is located on bank of Mandovi river and it is the first Church of Bardez. This is the famous landmark of Goa. The church is built inside the Reis Magos Fort and hence named as The Reis Magos Church. It is on the way to the Calangute and Candolim beaches and goes through Verem bazar. This church was built in 1555 by the Franscican friars who were in charge of the missionary work for the area they founded a seminary here after taking the church. This is visible across river in Panjim. The church was built on a fort and there evidences that it was built by ruining the Hindu Temple and it can be seen on the design and structure of the temple. Every year on 6th of January locals celebrate the journey of three king who went to worship the holy infant child. Worth visiting this church in festive season so that we can join the procession to relive the pilgrimage of the Three Magi with start to Bethlehem.
Church Timings :Open everyday (Monday to Sunday)– 6.00am to 11.00pm. Mass Timings Weekdays (Monday to Saturday) – 7.30 am. Sundays – 7.30 am and 5.00 pm.
Entry Fee : NA
Address : Nerul – Reis Margos Rd, Reis Magos, Goa – 403114 (Verem)
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