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Churches of Goa

One of the most ancient and celebrated religious buildings of Goa, this magnificent 16th century monument to the Roman Catholic rule in Goa under the Portuguese is the largest church in Asia. The most imposing of all churches, the Se Cathedral overwhelms the visitor with its grandeur and awesome presence. Dedicated to St Catherine, the cathedral, close to the Bom Jesus Basilica, has five bells. One of the bells is called the Golden Bell, due to the sweet sound it produces. The final edifice of this magnificent building is bigger than any of the churches in Portugal itself. The building is Portuguese-Gothic in style with a Tuscan exterior and Corinthian interior. The main altar is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria, and old paintings on either side of it depict scenes from her life and martyrdom. The adjoining convent has been turned in to an Archeological Museum and is open to the public.

Built in 1602, the only ruin of the Church of St. Augustine on the Holy Hill at Old Goa near the Nunnery, is a lofty 46-metre high tower defying the torrential rains. The tower is one of the four of St. Augustine Churches that once stood there. This highly visible landmark, the high tower served as a belfry and formed part of the facade of a magnificent Church. The Tower was meant to serve as a belfry and the Church had eight richly adorned chapels and four altars and a convent with numerous cells attached to it.

The church dedicated to Our Lady of Divine Providence, the church is named after the founder of the Theatine order, St. Cajetan, a contemporary of St Francis Xavier. This church, which is said to have been modelled on the original design of the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, is architecturally Corinthian both externally and internally while the gilded altars with rich carvings are in rich Baroque style. The Church building itself is built of laterite blocks which are lime plastered. Inside a clever use of internal buttresses and four huge pillars has turned the interior into a cruciform. Profusely carved and gilded in Baroque style, the six altars have twisted shafts dominated by figures of angels. The altars also have Italian school paintings on canvas, some depicting scenes from the life of St. Cajetan

A relatively simple church by the standards of the time is one of the first churches built on the Goan soil. The earlier church, built in 1541 was completely re-built from its foundations in 1619. The main altar dedicated to dedicated to Mary Immaculate is very impressive and also the two flanking altars which catch the eye. Each is a riot of heavily gilded, deeply carved ornamentation, yet compact and controlled, a fine example of the period. At the side of each is a marble statue, one of St Peter and one of St Paul.

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