Bailica of Bom Jesus:
Perhaps the most talked about 'must do' while in Goa, is the Basilica of Bom Jesus located in Old Goa. Known to house the relics of St Francis Xavier, the monument attracts thousands of tourists every year. It is the finest example of Baroque architecture in India. The Jesuits built the Basilica of Bom Jesus, between the years 1594 - 1605 with its three storied façade showing Iconic, Doric and Corinthian orders. It is the only church in Goa whose exteriors and denude are of plaster. On the gilded high altar, a small statue of Bom Jesus to whom the church is dedicated occupies a place on the base of the pedestal bearing the giant figure of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuit order. In the right transept is a chapel which holds a two tier mausoleum of St. Francis Xavier. It was designed in Florence by Giovanni Battista Foggini and gifted by a devotee of the saint, the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III. On this marble mausoleum is set the silver casket, designed by the Italian Jesuit Marcello Mastrilli and executed by Goan goldsmiths. And within the silver casket in a crystal urn lie the relics of the body of St. Francis Xavier, who died on December 3, 1552 at Sanchuan. The saint is affectionately addressed as 'Goencho Saib' or the 'Lord of Goa' in the Konkani language. -
The Kings Church:
If you're in the vicinity of Zuari, chances are that you'll probably look at the hill top and find this glorious little Three Kings Church. Mystery, intrigue and some vague folklore surround the Three Kings Church, which also happens to be the location for the Bollywood film 'Bhoothnath', an adaptation of Oscar Wilde's short story, 'The Canterville ghost.
St.Augustine tower,Old Goa:
Next to St. Monica's convent once stood the church of Our Lady of Grace, which was built in 1602 by the Augustinian friars. In the year 1835 this church was deserted due to the suppression of the religious orders in Goa. Due to neglect and disrepair, the vault of the church collapsed on the 8th of September, 1842. The façade and half the tower fell in 1931 leaving behind only the tower, which is popularly known as the Tower of St. Augustine.
Holy spirit church.wOld Goa:
Standing back to back with the Se Cathedral is the Church of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is visible on the façade of the church in the form of a dove. The church was built between the years 1661 to 1668 and replaced an earlier church with the Manueline style of architecture whose doorway has been retained in the present church. An image of the crucified Christ embracing St.Francis of Assissi, dominates the high altar of the church.
The Chapel of St. Catherine, Old Goa:
St. Catherine is a small chapel but its importance can be gauged by reading an inscribed slab there: 'Here in this place was the doorway through which Governor Afonse de Albuquerque entered and took this city from the Mohammedans on the day of St. Catherine in the year 1510 in whose honour and memory the Governor George Cabral, ordered this chapel to be built in the year 1550 at the expenses of His Highness.' Albuquerque had built an earlier structure in 1510 to commemorate his entry into the city and dedicated it to the saint to whom he ascribed his victory. It was demolished to make way for this chapel. Pope Paul III issued a bull in 1534 raising this chapel to the state of cathedral and it remained so till the new cathedral was constructed.
Cya in the nxt part......
