India : Goa : What to See and Excursions - 4

The beach capital of India, Goa has more to offer beyond the beautiful nature. Amongst the other must visits landmarks in Goa are its many churches. The entire Indian state of Goa is dotted with churches that reveal the rich religious heritage of Goa. The churches of Goa are monuments in stone. They are of permanent interest to the historian, the archaeologist, the student of art and architecture, the tourist and indeed to every curious intellect.

The "Church of Old Goa" has received recognition by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is a popular tourist attractions.

Basilica of Born Jesus :

It is dedicated to infant (Bom) Jesus, the Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous throughout the Roman Catholic world. The Church houses the Holy sacrament and the remains of St. Francis Xavier. the construction of the Church began in 1594 and was completed in 1605. Its richly gilded main alter has the figure of infant Jesus. Up above, there is a big statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the order of Jesuit. the Holy Trinity - the father, the son and the Holy Ghost are depicted on a medallion.

Se Cathedral :

Outside View - Se Cathedral

This is the largest church in Goa, India and reportedly all Asia. The original building was constructed of mud and stones and strow and was erected in 1510 and was dedicated to St. Catherine for it was on St. Catherine's day - Nov 25th that Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa. The Portuguese viceroy, Dom Francisco Coutinho, the Count of Redondo (1561 - 1564) commissioned its construction. The construction begun in 1562 and completed in 1652, He wanted it to be "a grandiose church worthy of the wealth, power and frame of the Portuguese who dominated the seas from the Atlantic to the Pacific." Se Cathedral has 14 altars, an 80m long aisle and 5 bells - one of them is the famous "golden bell."

Inside View - Se Cathedral

The Chapel of St. Xavier :

Guys, architecturally, it is of the Doric order. The chapel was within the enclosure of the College of St. Paul and was dedicated either to St. Anthony or to St. Jerome. As the chapel was used by St. Francis Xavier, it was re-dedicated to him after his canonization in 1622. The original chapel fell into ruins in 1570 and the present chapel was rebuilt in 1884.

All Image Source Courtesy : Google