subject: The Churches Of Goa Silent Sentinels Of Goas Ancient Christian Character [print this page] With its golden beaches suffused in a perpetually festive and vibrant atmosphere, Goa has an international reputation as a party capital. However, this overshadows the significant heritage and history that the state claims as having been one of the religious and political strongholds of the Portuguese Empire for over 400 years. The echoes of this history are most well preserved in the states Old Goa, on the banks of the River Mandovi. Here, a myriad of ancient churches tower over cobbled labyrinth streetscapes and backdrops lush with paddy.
The many churches and convents attest to Goas devout Catholic character, their Portuguese and Italian influences quite distinctive in their artwork. The handsome Baroque and medieval European architecture enhance the flavour of the archaic in the old-world atmosphere of Old Goa. Its churches are known for their distinctive Portuguese-Gothic style with their Tuscan facades and interiors elegantly designed in the Corinthian style, with their ornate altars.
Although most of the churches have fallen into decline and decay since the 18th century, this core of the city still endures as a focal point in the religious, social and cultural fabric of Goan life, which still teems with a significant Christian demographic. Some of the most prominent sites have been painstakingly and lovingly restored while the ruination of the rest only serves to enhance the mantle of mystique donned by this ancient heritage-scape.
Inarguably the most famous and visited of these structures is the Basilica Bom Jesus. Thousands of devotees from all around the world flock to this hallowed site that houses the enshrined mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, Goas own patron saint. The body is taken out for public viewing every ten years, prompting a flood of devotional festivity in the region. The church has been a focal point in the political ceremonies of the region since its first construction in 1605, as it was believed that the saint would guarantee the protection of the Goan ruler. Unsurprisingly, this site is today a proud World Heritage Monument. The remains of the saint are also said to invoke miraculous healing powers, claims of which have been recorded as recently as the late 19th century.
Built in 1565 upon a former temple ground, the Church of the Holy Spirit is known mainly for its resemblance to the Basilica Bom Jesus, with its Indo-Baroque interiors and towers surmounted by cupolas and domes.
The Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is another significant site of worship. Considered to be the landmark church of the states capital of Panjim, the white Baroque church is known for the two distinctive towers that flank it on either side, as well as the magnificent bell whose tolling resounds through the main town square. Its Gothic style staircase and the statues of St. Peter and Paul are also features of interest, while the altar is considered to be among the most beautiful in the Goan churches. The Royal Chapel of St. Anthony is yet another prominent church located in the state capital, built during the 17th century.
The Church of Our Lady of Rosary is one of the regions oldest churches, being built upon the same spot where Afonso de Albuquerque is said to have witnessed the conquest and capitulation of Goa to Portuguese rule in 1510. Set at the Western extremity of the Old Goa town, this complex showcases a seamless intermixing of the gothic and renaissance architectural styles and is the only complete structure still standing in the area.
The Se Cathedral, or the chapel of St. Catherine, is located opposite the town square of Terreiro de Sabaio built by Afonso de Albuquerque to mark his conquest of Goa. The three-storied edifice flanked by two towers is distinctly Renaissance in character and was upgraded to a Cathedral by Pope Paul III only a few decades after its initial construction.
West of the Se Cathedral, to which it is connected by the palace of the Archbishop, lies the Convent and Church of St. Francis Of Assisi. This was originally built by eight Franciscan friars and consecrated to the Holy Spirit in 1521. However, with the sole exception of the Manuline-style church entrance, the present Tuscan faade of the church stems from its reconstruction in 1661. Its interiors are a spectacle of intricate woodwork and sculpture. The Archaeological Museum of Goa now occupies the former site of its convent.
The Church of Reis Magos found within the fort in Bardez is reputed to be the very first church built in Goa by monks of the Franciscan order. Its name is derived from the altar mural of the Three Magi paying their tributes to the infant Christ.
The Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and the Church and Convent of St Monica are two other significant sites in Old Goa. The former is notable for both its standout Doric architecture and its reputation of having been built by the famous Santo Pedro himself, while the latter is a massive building set atop the Holy Hill, also in Doric and Tuscan architectural styles. It is famous as a shelter for destitute women and orphans.
These structures are merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to appreciating the many-faceted charms of old Goa. Tourists staying at a resort in Goa should not miss enjoying the archaic Portuguese flavours of this holiday destination. The Retreat by Zuri Goa in particular is one of the family oriented Benaulim hotels located in South Goa that transports you through time into the laid-back loveliness of an old-world Portuguese village.
