Before visiting any place you have gotta learn a bit about it
Old Goa was:
Established in the 15th Century by the Bijapur Dynasty.
Conquered by the Portuguese in the 16th century and served as a trade and commerce capital for Portuguese India.
Abandoned in the 18th century due to plague (the Portuguese later shifted its capital to Nova Goa aka mordern day Panjim).
1. Basilica of Bom Jesus
The Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa is famed as holding the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier and is regarded as the best example of Baroque architecture in the country. The basilica was completed in 1605 and is today one of the most popular places to see in Old Goa.
2. Se Cathedral
Se Cathedral is the largest church in the whole of Asia, ensuring it's among the most celebrated religious buildings in India and one of the most fascinating places to see in Old Goa.
Constructed from 1563, one of the cathedral’s most famous features is its large bell known as the ‘Golden Bell’. It's the largest in Goa and is also recognized as one of the best bells in the world, on account of its rich tone.
3. Ruins of St. Augustine
The crumbling remains of the Church of St. Augustine in Old Goa perhaps serve as the perfect metaphor for the fallen era of Portuguese colonisation. All that remains of the old church is a 46-metre high tower which was once the belfry of the structure.
The church was built in the early 1600s before falling into neglect and gradually collapsing between 1842 and 1938. The church’s bell however still rings today, but in the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Panjim.
4. Church of St. Cajetan
The Church of St. Cajetan in Old Goa is well known for being modelled on the original design of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It’s presented in an impressive white façade, set beside the Mandovi River and just a stone’s throw from the majestic Se Cathedral. The church was completed in 1661, displaying two towers on either side serving as the belfry.
5. Archaeological Museum
An archaeological museum and portrait gallery rolled into one, anyone hoping to gain a broader insight into the archaeological and artistic history of Goa should certainly pay a visit to this fascinating museum in Old Goa.
Many artifacts, sculptures and objects from the Portuguese rule are among the most intriguing inhabitants of the museum, spread across eight galleries which also cover the pre-historic era of Goa.
