Velha Goa (Old Goa) is the former capital of Portuguese India. This UNESCO-listed city maintains the regal splendor of its heyday between the 16th and 18th centuries. Spend a day wandering between the beautiful churches of Old Goa, which stand as vestiges of a one-time colonial power. Visit museums and see the tomb of a revered saint.
Enter the city as the Portuguese did when disembarking from ferries by strolling through the Arch of Viceroy. Above the arch is a statue of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Nearby, Adil Shah Palace Gateway is the last-standing remnant of a sultan’s palace. Admire the sublime facade of the Church of St. Cajetan, which is modeled on St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Hundreds-year-old whitewashed masterpieces frame a vast garden in the city center. Marvel at the Tuscan exterior and Corinthian exterior of the Se Cathedral. Browse portrayals of St. Francis and a collection of coats of arms inside the Convent of St. Francis of Assisi. The Archaeological Museum of Goa has paintings of Portuguese India’s viceroys, colonial bronze statues, ancient sati stones and Hindu sculptures.
Step inside the Baroque-style Basilica of Bom Jesus, one of the most venerated churches in the Catholic world. It houses the mortal relics of St. Francis Xavier inside an ornamental casket. December’s Feast of St. Francis is a colorful celebration of the saint with a handicraft market and street food vendors.
More monuments, such as the 151-feet (46-meter) tall St. Augustine Tower, sit along quiet streets. The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is one of Goa’s oldest churches. Browse displays of rosaries, precious stones, textiles and paintings at the Museum of Christian Art. Wax World Museum has wax models of notable Indian people and celebrities.
Velha Goa is situated about 7 miles (11 kilometers) to the east of Panaji. Get here by public buses, auto rickshaw and taxi. Visit on a daytrip from Goa’s capital city and immerse yourself in a bygone era of Indian history.
