Old Goa temples. Old Goa. What to see in Old Goa
Which is a fortress, inside and outside of which there is a dense development of residential facilities, buildings and structures for various purposes, temple complexes, etc. Today, the fortress walls have merged so tightly and harmoniously into big picture settlement that they are almost impossible to find.
Not so long ago, Old Goa was the capital of the state, and today it is one of the main attractions nearby at present). The distance from the main city of Goa to this historically significant place is about 10 kilometers. Both independent tourists and numerous excursion groups come here every day who want to get acquainted with the religious monuments of past years, of which there are quite a few here.
City `s history
The city was founded in the 15th century by order of Sultan Adil Shah, ruler of the Bijapur Sultanate, and was one of the central shopping centers. Over the next few centuries, the history of the existence of Old Goa is inextricably linked with the Portuguese colonialists, since in 1510 they recaptured the city from the Sultanate.
Old Goa had the status of the capital until the end of the 40s. XIX century. The city lost its significance due to the terrible cholera epidemic, which grew every day and claimed the lives of hundreds of people. It was then that it was decided to move the capital to neighboring Panaji.
Goa was under the rule of the Spanish colonialists for about 450 years, after which India gained independence and decided to return the selected lands back to its borders. As a result of the military operation, the Indian army defeated the Spaniards and declared the state of Goa a union territory of its state.
How to get there?
Old Goa is an excellent excursion place where you can learn a lot about the country, get acquainted with its history, culture and religious preferences. You can get here in several ways:
- Excursion to Old Goa, where in addition to sightseeing of this city, the tour program will include a lot of interesting things;
- go on a trip on your own in a rented car vehicle(car, moped, bike, etc.);
- send on a trip to public bus. In this case, the journey will not take much time and will be extremely cheap.
If you have chosen the second travel option, then be careful: not only can you often find traffic police waiting for tourists at the entrance to Old Goa, but also on the road from Panaji there is a small dangerous section of the road where the road is quite narrow and heavy trucks are moving They move almost the entire width of the road (it is very inconvenient to go around them).
Attractions
The sights of Old Goa that have survived to this day are, first of all, numerous temples, buildings and other buildings with religious themes.
Thus, among the most visited and interesting temples of Old Goa is the Basilica of Bom Jesus (Merciful Jesus). It is here that the relics of the patron saint of Goa are kept. The building was erected by the Jesuits. In its design, it combines several styles (Ionic, Corinthian, Doric, etc.). What is noteworthy is that the basilica is the only temple in Goa whose exterior is not decorated with stucco.
About once a decade, tourists can attend a display of the relics of St. Xavier. True, the last time this happened, more than a million pilgrims gathered from all over the globe.
St. Catherine's Cathedral is located almost opposite the Basilica of the Merciful Jesus and, in terms of its size, is considered the largest cathedral on the Asian continent. At the same time, this church is also considered one of the very first to appear here. The church owes its origins to the Portuguese, who in 1510 decided to erect a cathedral in honor of the conquest of these places. This religious site is decorated in traditional Tuscan style. During its existence, it was repeatedly rebuilt and completed. The cathedral received its current appearance around 1652. St. Catherine's Cathedral houses many interesting religious objects. For example, five massive bells are kept here, one of which is “golden” - the largest in Goa. In the third chapel there is another attraction - the “growing cross”, which fulfills the wishes of believers. There is a legend that says that a certain shepherd, while carving a wooden cross for his house, saw Jesus, so the cross began to be considered life-giving. It was decided to store it in a special chapel. While this chapel was being built, the cross grew greatly. There are rumors that it is still growing today thanks to the wishes of parishioners fulfilled.
If you go behind the cathedral, you will see the building of the gallery of contemporary Christian art. It is recommended that only true religious fanatics or those who simply have a lot of free time come here. The rest will be sorry for wasting their time.
The Church of St. Cajetan is considered the most beautiful temple complex in the entire city. It is located in the same area as the previously described religious buildings. This temple is very similar to Rome's St. Peter's Basilica. The external design of the temple belongs to the Corinthian style, and the interior decoration corresponds to the Baroque style.
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is unique in that all the walls of this building are decorated with various images illustrating episodes from the life of this saint, and the floor represents tombstones on the graves of Portuguese noble families with their family coats of arms.
Next to this church you can find a monastery of the same name, on the territory of which there is an archaeological museum, where portraits of all the governors and kings are collected, as well as the Chapel of St. Catherine, which was one of the first to appear here after the conquest of the territories by the Portuguese.
Once on the territory of Old Goa there was beautiful church St. Augustine, but today all that remains of it are ruins, which are still considered a fairly visited place in the city. All that remains of the majestic structure are the ruins of a 40-meter bell tower and several adjacent walls. On the territory of these ruins you can see many local residents digging in the ground. It is believed that in the depths there is a large number of artifacts of religious themes, which are exactly what local archaeologists are looking for.
Objects that deserve special attention include the Chapel of St. Anthony, the Church of St. John, which today has become a nursing home, the Monastery and Church of St. Monica, considered the theological center of the monks, the Museum of Christian Art, which tells the history of this religious branch, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, around which there is a beautiful and quiet garden, the Church of the Madonna on the mountain, which offers stunning views of the city and surrounding area, and much more.
Due to the numerous historically significant sites that are located within the boundaries of Old Goa, this city is included in the list of places classified as historical heritage.
The Indian state of Goa is the Asian “Ibiza”, a place of relaxed relaxation, night parties, freedom and a sense of continuous celebration. Some foreigners are so inspired by this atmosphere that they move to Goa permanently. They can be seen along the coastline of Arambol and Palolem beaches, meditating on the sunset and doing blissful “doing nothing.”
But relaxation shouldn't be limited to just the beach and parties. The state has many striking colonial-era attractions and charming towns with Portuguese-style architecture. Old Goa is included in the UNESCO list and is a must visit. Goa also has several picturesque nature reserves. A walk through traditional markets, where interesting souvenirs and crafts from local craftsmen are sold, can diversify your vacation.
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What to see and where to go in Goa?
The most interesting and Beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.
Panaji is the capital of the resort state of Goa. At first it was a small village, but after the residence of the Portuguese governor was moved here in the 18th century, the city began to actively develop. On the territory of Panaji there are still preserved monuments of colonial architecture of past centuries, which today are of historical interest. The population of the city, together with its suburbs, barely reaches 100 thousand people.
The old city quarter, where the houses of the descendants of the Portuguese colonialists are located. The main development of the area took place about 170 years ago after Panaji was declared the capital of Goa. The historical facades of Fontaines houses are painted in bright colors, which gives the area an interesting flavor. The houses are built in a mixture of Portuguese and traditional Indian architecture.
Anjuna – small town on the coast of Goa, famous for its flea market. The bazaar appeared in the 60s. XX century at the height of the hippie era. It all started with the fact that representatives of this subculture gathered at one of the local beaches for round-the-clock singing and dancing. Sometimes they had to sell some of their things in order to get money for their further carefree existence. This is how the famous market in Anjuna appeared.
The market is located between the villages of Anjuna and Arpora. It is not just trade tents where you can buy interesting things and bright souvenirs. This is a whole authentic fair with a booth where people dance, sing, watch impromptu performances, eat and have fun. There are disco bars along the edges of the market, and a special stage for concerts and performances has been built in the central part.
The museum is adjacent to the Goa airport. By the way, herself Harbour Air Dabolim is actively used by the Indian Air Force. The museum exhibits include European, Russian and American airplanes and helicopters of the last century. The collection is not very large, there are barely a dozen and a half copies, but this makes it no less interesting. All aircrafts located on an open-air site.
The state of Goa has very favorable climatic conditions, so spices are grown here on an industrial scale for the whole of India and for export to other countries. The spice plantations are a popular tourist attraction, with organized tours available. The fields are located near the town of Ponda, which is approximately 40 km away. from Panaji. Some plantations have a developed tourist infrastructure with restaurants, shops and hotels.
17th century Portuguese basilica located in Old Goa. The main architectural style of the building is lush colonial baroque. The marble floor of the church is decorated with semi-precious stones, valuable paintings hang on the walls, and in the middle of the temple there are 3 meter statue Ignatius of Loyola - Grand Master and founder of the Jesuit Order. The basilica is one of the main architectural attractions of Goa.
Big Catholic cathedral, which is the largest Christian temple in India. It was erected to commemorate the Portuguese victory in the Battle of Goa in 1510. This event coincided with the day of St. Catherine, so it was decided to lay the foundation for the cathedral and name it in honor of this saint. Construction was completed in 1619. The cathedral was built in the Portuguese Manueline architectural style.
The temple was built in XVII century, it is part of the St. Catherine's Cathedral complex in Old Goa. The inside of the church is richly decorated with frescoes and decorated with wood and marble. It should be noted that the walls were painted by local craftsmen. First, they created images about the life of St. Francis, weaving characters from Indian mythology into the plot, which horrified the Portuguese king.
The temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, who, according to Hindu beliefs, is the wife of the god Shiva. The building was erected in the 18th century during the reign of Raja Chhatrapati Shahu. Temple complex consists of a main building and several side buildings. All buildings are painted a pleasant terracotta color. The last large-scale reconstruction of the temple was carried out in 1966.
The church is located in the center of Panaji, it was built in the middle of the 16th century. The building from the beginning of the 17th century has survived to this day, since the original building was destroyed as a result of constant wars for Goa. The architecture and interior decoration of the church are distinguished by grace and restraint. A system of stairs with figured railings that are in harmony with the church facade leads to the entrance to the temple.
The monastery complex was erected at the very beginning of the 17th century. The monastery existed until XIX century, after which it was abandoned due to the decision of the Portuguese government to dissolve religious orders. All the interior decoration and property of the monastery was transferred to other churches, sold or lost. In the middle of the 19th century, the main vault of the church fell, and by the 20th century the complex had finally turned into ruins.
An old Portuguese fortress, built in 1612 to protect the newly conquered lands from the encroachments of the Dutch. The fort consists of two parts. The lower one is located at the edge of the sea and served for defensive purposes. The upper one was engaged in servicing the fort garrison. Nowadays, there is a prison in the lower part; the remaining buildings of the fortress are open for free inspection.
The fort was built in 1550 (according to other sources - in 1490). At the beginning of the 18th century, the fortress managed to withstand the onslaught of the Marathas, who captured all the surrounding lands and were preparing to oust the Portuguese from their firmly occupied positions. Within the fort there was a garrison, an armory, a prison and underground storage facilities. During construction, the building was equipped with many secret passages. Today there is a museum on the territory of the fortification.
A natural park covering an area of 240 hectares. It is home to several popular attractions, such as the 12th-century Mahadeva Temple and India's largest waterfall, Dudhsagar. The reserve is home to panthers, leopards, bears, porcupines, gaurs, lynxes and other animals. A jeep safari is organized for tourists, during which you can enjoy the picturesque landscapes and watch the animals.
A small jungle reserve that looks more like a garden. Its area is only 8 km². Wild boars, bison, squirrels and bison live here. Some animals calmly walk around the territory, others live in enclosures. The reserve also houses a wide variety of birds. Tourists can take an elephant ride or admire the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple located within the park.
The reserve is located on the territory of mangrove swamps. About 400 species of birds live here, as well as crocodiles and jackals. During the winter period from October to March, the maximum concentration of birds is observed in Salim Ali, as many flocks fly here for the winter. You can observe the habits of birds from a special tower. During the excursion, tourists are transported on special boats.
A powerful waterfall 10 meters high, located in the northern part of Goa. At the foot of the cascading water jets a lake is formed, quite suitable for swimming. Near the waterfall there is an equipped Observation deck, from where you can explore the picturesque surroundings. Not far from the stream is the temple of the god Rudreshwar, where Hindu funeral rituals are performed.
The caves are located near the Arvalem waterfall. It is believed that they originated in period V-VI centuries n. e. The cave walls contain Sanskrit inscriptions dating back to the 13th century. According to one version, they were cut through by ancient fans of the pagan cult. Later, the caves began to be used by adherents of Hinduism, who made inscriptions. Hundreds of monks could live in such cave temples.
The waterfall is the most visited natural attraction in the state of Goa. It is included in the program of almost all organized excursions. "Dudhsagar" translates to "sea of milk". If you look closely, the foamy streams of water from afar really resemble milk. During the monsoon season, Dudhsagar is especially devastating, with its streams crashing into the deep lake at its base.
The beach is located in the southern part of Goa, which is considered calmer than the “party” part Northern part. The length of the coastline is about 3 km. Agonda has almost no developed tourist infrastructure; there are only residential bungalows and a few hotels. Olive turtles, a particularly protected species in India, live and lay eggs on the beach. The place is perfect for a relaxing family holiday.
Palolem is considered best beach southern part of Goa, therefore in high season It's very crowded here. The beach is located in a bay, so it has a convenient gentle slope into the sea. By Indian standards, the place is perfectly clean and there are almost no cows roaming freely, which indicates a good cleaning service. Along the beach there are bungalows, budget guest houses and more expensive hotels.
Arambol is located in the northern part of Goa. Unlike other beaches in this part of the state, there is no such large-scale development here. Coastline stretches for as much as 16 km, it is surrounded by picturesque cliffs and dense jungle. Arambol has a free, “bohemian” atmosphere; there are many colorful personalities here. Once upon a time, the beach was chosen by hippies; since then it has become a “home” for creative and unconventional people.
The casino is located on board cruise ship, standing on the Mondovi River. It is considered one of the largest in India and is the largest in Goa. There are 50 tables for playing poker, roulette, blackjack and 30 slot machines. The casino can also offer river walk and dinner in a good restaurant. You can even come here with children - there is a special entertainment area for them.
A popular night spot on the top of the Arpora hill, where all lovers of electronic music and dancing until the morning try to get there. The club is divided into two zones - a bar and a dance floor with a swimming pool. Famous Western DJs perform here quite often. Parties by the pool are especially popular, since in the stuffy Indian night there is a great desire to freshen up after energetic and tiring dances.
Old Goa or Goa - Vel is a city and at the same time a cultural and architectural complex located in the North Goa district, India. It is located nine kilometers from the capital of Goa, Panaji, on the banks of the Mandovi River. For a long time, Old Goa was the capital of the Portuguese colony. During European rule, many churches, temples and estates were built.
Most of the buildings from the late Middle Ages are well preserved, so in 1986 the territory of the Old Town received the status of an object World Heritage UNESCO. Access to all historical sites is open to the public.
Sights of Old Goa
On the territory of Old Goa there are many architectural buildings. Many churches and temples have been restored and reconstructed. Some of them still hold services. The main attractions are located close to each other, which is very convenient for tourists. Entrance to the territory is absolutely free.
Cathedral of St. Catherine
Archaeological Museum
Story
Officially, the history of Goa began in the third century BC. Goa was then part of the Buddhist Maurya Empire. Later belonged to various Hindu dynasties. In the fourteenth century, Old Goa came under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, but sixty years later it was reconquered by the Vajayanagar Empire. And a hundred years later the Muslims had power again. By the time the Portuguese arrived, Goa was part of the Bijapur Sultanate under the rule of the Adil Shah dynasty.
In 1510, the Portuguese army under the leadership of General Afonso de Albuquerque recaptured Goa from Sultan Yusuf Adil Shah. Thus, for 450 years old Goa belonged to the Portuguese. During this time, Christianity actively spread, churches, temples and chapels were built. In 1947, India gained independence, and in 1961, during a military operation, the Portuguese were sent home and Goa was declared Indian territory.
How to get there
Old Goa has long been a place of attraction for most tourists staying in this Indian state. It’s easy to get here either on your own or by ordering a guided tour. Tours operate from most nearby major cities. To order, please contact tourist agency or a private guide.
Bus
Old Goa is easily reached by intercity buses along NH748. From Panaji the journey will take approximately 30 minutes. The Panjim Bus Stand is located nearby State Museum Goa.
Scooter or car
Renting scooters or cars is common in India, so many tourists get to Old Goa on their own. You need to head east from the city center along the Ponte de Linhares Causeway or NH748. The distance from Panaji is just over 10 kilometers, from Margao - about 32 kilometers, from Ponda - about 20 kilometers.
Exploring the colonial style and Portuguese heritage in Goa can be considered incomplete and even failed if you do not make it to Old Goa. Even though the town is small, it is quite easy to get lost and miss all the interesting things by indulging in the contemplation of views that are unexpected for India. We have prepared our personal list of must-sees in Old Goa.
Often on the Internet when asking “What to see in Pananji?” or “What to see in Goa”, “Sights of Goa”, you can find photographs of a dilapidated church, a wide avenue and restored white temples. You can look for them for a very long time later in the city, wandering along the narrow streets once Portuguese city, and still can't be found. Why? The answer is very, simple - all these photos were taken not in Pananji, but in a neighboring city.
Although, probably, calling Old Goa a city means lying. By and large, we're talking about only about a single area that managed to avoid destruction and reconstruction, and which is now included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (about his doubts about the benefits of inclusion in this very list,).
On enough small area there are several cathedrals, bell towers and even a museum, albeit also rebuilt from a church. By the way, most of the churches are active, and the requirements for clothing when visiting them are the same as in Pananji.
On the one hand, they are all similar - yet the period of creation is very short, the purpose of the buildings is similar, and architectural trends in those days did not change as quickly and dramatically as they do now. On the other hand, precisely because of their similarity, they form a very interesting and noteworthy architectural ensemble.
The first thing that catches your eye is the cleanliness, which is unusual for India: there is no garbage anywhere, but neither are trash bins; lawns are evenly mowed, watered and landscaped; the dead grass has been removed. If I had only come from Europe or , then I probably wouldn’t even have paid attention to it - well, what’s unusual here, it’s sui in India ☺. But having lived in Goa for 5 months, I understand that such a love for setting up a marathon is not typical for India. By the way, I wonder how they were forced to keep order in Old Goa so carefully? It is clear that money decides a lot. But who does quality control? Portuguese? The British? Herons ☺?
It's probably worth starting your acquaintance with Basilica of Bom Jesus. It is impossible not to notice it - it is very different from all other buildings, besides, it is to it that guides of all stripes will lure you, so it is better to immediately put an end to this issue and with a clear conscience, but not with an empty wallet, move on.
The basilica was built and illuminated in the late 16th and early 17th centuries and is considered a prime example of Portuguese Baroque. To this day, it is one of the most richly decorated churches in Goa: a white marble floor with inserts of semi-precious stones, a gilded altar with elaborate carvings, and painted walls.
Quite interesting is the very name of the church “Bom Jesus” - this is a peculiar way of showing respect and love for God, since from Portuguese it is roughly translated as “good, holy baby Jesus”.
There's a crowd around her great amount I helped of all stripes, but the main focus was tour guides. It’s not worth taking this bait for several reasons.
- They can only broadcast when leaving, and then you will be asked to remain silent;
- They also cannot boast of academic knowledge in English, so the story will be conducted in Hinglish (a hellish mixture of English, Hindi and an incredible accent), how much it will be understandable to you is a big, big question;
- Local guides also cannot boast of a historical or cultural education, so everyone will have their own version of events, very far from the truth (for example, according to one of their wonderful versions, the basilica was built by Vasca de Gamma - yeah, personally ☺).
So what is this basilica so famous for, that it has caused such unprecedented excitement? It contains the remains of the Portuguese missionary Francis Xavier, who, as we have already told, was later canonized and is considered the patron saint of Goa.
In general, the personality of Francis Xavier, like many other historical personalities, is more than ambiguous. He managed to distinguish himself very much not only in the history of Goa, but throughout the entire Catholic world. Francis Xavier left Portugal in 1541 and never returned to Europe. His missionary work affected not only India, but also many other countries: China, Japan, Mozambique.
In Portuguese India, under the patronage of Francis Xavier, schools, temples, and hospitals were built. In addition, he headed St. Paul's College in Goa, which later became the first Jesuit missionary point in Asia. Naturally, he was also engaged in educational activities, converted infidels to Christianity, and, in addition, was one of the main advocates of morality among the colonialists and missionaries themselves.
The relics of Francis Xavier (though not all of them: his nails, encrusted with diamonds, were transferred to Chandora) are kept in a silver coffin, which is opened for public viewing once every 10 years. The last time this happened was in 2014. Previously, anyone could touch his incorruptible body, but now it is fenced off by the glass lid of the tomb. The reason is simple: one particularly devout believer, instead of simply touching or kissing the relics, bit off St. Francis’ finger.
In addition to its size (length 76 meters, width 55), the Se Cathedral can also boast of timing, albeit in a bad way: its construction took almost 90 years. Several legends and religious artifacts are associated with this church (of course, you can’t photograph anything):
- Golden Bell(Golden Bell) - it is located in the bell tower of the cathedral and is the largest in Asia (made, of course, not from gold);
- Chapel of the miraculous cross(Chapel of the Cross of Miracles) – it contains a cross, which, according to legend, magically increased in size after its creation.
- Gilded and ornamented screen located behind the altar(Reredos), which depicts the life of Saint Catherine, to whom, in fact, the cathedral is dedicated. She was beheaded in Egypt in Alexandria because she refused to renounce her faith.
Near the cathedral there is Archaeological Museum , the entrance to which costs a symbolic 10 rupees, the paper on which the tickets are printed is even more expensive. The museum itself does not present anything particularly interesting - a gallery of portraits of Portuguese viceroys, bronze statues from different times, fragments of Hindu temple sculpture, something called “hero stones”, etc. and so on. We found the Goa State Museum in Pananji much more interesting, although, of course, to each his own.
On the same well-groomed territory there are several more churches, temples and other buildings of varying degrees of destruction. Everyone probably has rich story, but visually they are not particularly remarkable.
If you still have some strength left after this excursion into history and religion, you can wander around the city and get to the ruins Monastery of St. Augustine. The ruins themselves are very picturesque, but at the same time depressing. A very melancholy place, evoking thoughts of the eternal and death. This is probably exactly the mood that Catholic buildings should create.
In general, in Old Goa you can endlessly move from temple to temple: a large temple will be replaced by a small one, an active one will be replaced by a closed one, a destroyed one will be replaced by a restored one. There are so many of them, but they are so similar that after a while it begins to ripple in the eyes and they merge into one large spot without any identifying marks. So, the main thing here is not to overdo it.
To be honest, for a long time I thought that Old Goa was another name for the city of Pananji - the current capital of Goa or its region, but I was wrong. This has been happening quite often lately, but that’s why we travel, to learn something new and dispel our misconceptions and stereotypes ☺. So, Old Goa is former capital and a stronghold of Portuguese and Catholic power in Goa. Today it is a completely doll-like city - a museum.
There is no real life to be found in this place. Everything looks as if an angry assistant director is about to run out from around the corner and start kicking you out so that you don’t get in the way of the shot ☺. Even the tourists here are very colorful: bright, juicy - the kind they usually show in movies. It can be seen that the fabrics and decorations of the Mumbai guests are very, very expensive, a striking contrast with Arambol fashion.
There are no stalls with local food - only fruit, water and ice cream. And everything, naturally, is exorbitantly expensive. So it’s better to take care of a snack in advance. But there was a lot of “help” who organized paid parking a hundred meters from the free one and intrusively direct unwary drivers to it; overly ardent guides, ready to fight among themselves for tourists, as well as the ubiquitous dogs.
Address: Panaji, India. How to reach: Old Goa is 9 km from Panaji and is easily accessible by bus or taxi.
Old Goa - open air museum
Goa is the pearl of the Indian coast, caressed by the sun. The tiny state, blessed by the gods, where the waters of the Arabian Sea merge on the horizon with a cloudless sky, and a light breeze playfully plays with the branches of slender palm trees and dense mangroves, is amazingly beautiful. Its former capital was called various names: Eastern Rome, little Lisbon, miniature Amsterdam. Contemporaries call it the city of temples for their many. The shrines stand frozen on the streets as silent witnesses to a dramatic and undoubtedly rich past - a magnet for tourists and pilgrims.
Milestones of history
It’s hard to imagine, but settlers first appeared on this fantastically colorful piece of fertile land in the Neolithic era, as evidenced by rock paintings discovered in the Khajur and Usgalimal caves. Around 200 BC. e. The seaside was owned by the Mauryan dynasty, which reached its peak under Emperor Ashoka, who reigned for 50 years. After his death, more than one generation of rulers fought for the right to control Goan territory. Years passed, centuries passed, empires were born and died. In the XIV century. Goa came under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate. The untold riches of the region attracted the attention of many overseas guests. By the way, the first European to visit India was the Tver merchant Afanasy Nikitin (1471 - 1474), who left behind a handwritten work in the form of travel notes “Walking across the Three Seas”. A monument was erected to him in Revdanda (2002). Approximately more than 20 years after the Russian traveler, the legendary navigator Vasco da Gama reached Hindustan. After which the Portuguese, having defeated the army of Sultan Yusuf Adil Shah, turned the tasty coastline, which brought fabulous profits, into their colony. Ships loaded to the brim with weightless silk, porcelain, ivory, jewelry and, of course, spices set sail from the piers.
Old Goa has been declared a spiritual metropolis. A stream of missionaries poured here to spread Christianity. At first, the Gentiles were enlightened with convincing arguments and affectionate, timely speeches. The tireless preacher Francis Xavier (1542) who arrived most succeeded. Yet local residents converted to someone else's faith reluctantly, one by one. The Vatican Ambassador Plenipotentiary asked John III (Pope) to urgently introduce the Inquisition to eradicate heresy. The efforts were crowned with success. Inquisitorial fires blazed in the square, where heretics were thrown. The “merciful” executioners strangled those who confessed to sin before burning, easing their torment.
It was forbidden to perform national wedding customs, wear traditional clothes, or tie threads indicating caste. Children were forcibly baptized, without the consent of their parents, orphans were sent to college, raised in a Christian spirit. More than 500 Hindu shrines were destroyed. By the 17th century 175 thousand Goans, mostly poor people, changed their faith. Towards the end of that century, disaster struck, bringing ruin. Terrible epidemics of malaria and then cholera reaped a considerable harvest. Frightened people fled en masse, leaving their homes. The pestilence forced the administration to build a new town, remote from the swamps, infested with mosquitoes that carry disease. Thus the capital city of Panaji was born. Freedom from the European colonialists came on May 30, 1987, when the region was officially declared the 25th state of India.
Present day
Portuguese domination did not pass without a trace: now 40% of the population are Catholics, and truly devoted ones. As if in a kaleidoscope, Indian and European cultures are colorfully mixed here. Often near houses there are crosses and statues of the Virgin Mary. The appearance of the townspeople, in whose blood the elegance of the East and the openness of the West are fused together, is surprising. Many Catholic women prefer to wear modern, stylish Western outfits. Married women replaced the scarlet stripes in the parting of their hair (sindoor-dana) with wedding rings. Reminiscent of bygone times, sacred architectural masterpieces - business card old Goa.
Cathedral C E
The heart is filled with awe, looking at such a majestic snow-white structure, built on an unimaginable scale. It is considered the largest Catholic shrine in South-East Asia(76x55 m). It was not in vain that it was erected in honor of St. Catherine. In March 1510, the famous governor Afonso de Albuquerque, breaking through the defenses of the Muslim army, burst into the city. But it was too early to celebrate. The defenders fought to the death and within a couple of months ousted the enemy. The final victory was not easy for the foreigners; only after a repeated fierce assault did they manage to capture the citadel. The significant event coincided with the celebration of the memory of St. Catherine (November 25). Deciding that this was a sign from above, they decided to build a temple, dedicating it to the great martyr. The church, which grew out of stone and straw with clay, looked very modest.
In 1562, instead of it, Don Francisco Coutinho (Viceroy of India) ordered the construction of a much grander building, designed to personify the invincible power of the colonialists dominating the territory from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean. After consecration (1640), it was completed over the course of 12 years.
The asymmetry of the facade due to one 33-meter tower makes a strange impression. The question involuntarily arises: “Where is the second one?” It turns out that it collapsed from a lightning strike (1776). They did not restore it; the building acquired its original asymmetrical appearance. Carved details and stained glass lancet windows emphasize the vertical.
On the bell tower there is a “golden bell” cast in Candolim (1652), so named for its magnificent sound. It's still resonant and still loud. Once upon a time, a melodic chime, heard at a distance of 14 km, frightened the Hindus incredibly, announcing the start of a public execution, carried out right in front of the facade on market square, where the fire blazed ominously, instruments of torture stood, awaiting the next victims.
Now here you can see fragrant flowers growing in the middle of lush green grass, shrubs, spreading crowns of long-lived trees, under which an entire supermarket could hide. In front of the entrance is the famous octagonal font, where the baptism ceremony of converts was carried out. Opposite the gate, the figure of Jesus rises on a pedestal, opening his arms to all humanity.
Above the portal is a five-pointed star, a symbol of the Nativity of Christ. The interior decoration, made in antique style, looks luxurious. The high vault and even rows of columns, decorated at the top with an ornament of acanthus leaves resembling bear paws, evoke a feeling of delight. Eight arched chapels fill the space of the central nave. The main gilded altar (15 in total) is dedicated to Catherine. Six panels show scenes from her earthly life. On the sides are images of the righteous Peter and Paul. Nearby is an organ dating from the 18th century.
The most valuable relic - miraculous cross, helping to get rid of various diseases. As legend has it, it was carved from wood by a pious shepherd and installed on Mount Boa Vista. On February 23, 1619, the appearance of the Lord occurred at the crucifixion, after which it grew exactly like the one at Calvary. I had to widen the doorway to get it in. In a specially prepared case where the value was placed, a small hole was made on the side to allow the hand to enter. Having touched, you need to make a wish, a good one will certainly come true.
Services are still held here, attracting crowds of parishioners. In the floors and walls there are burials of clergy and high-ranking nobles, as indicated by tablets with inscriptions. The living and the dead appear before the Almighty together. Some give him praise with prayer, others sleep in eternal sleep next door.
Treasures of the Archaeological Museum
It is located nearby, in a former Franciscan monastery. At the main portal there is a bronze sculpture of Admiral Afonso, reaching a height of 3.6 m. During his lifetime, the outstanding warrior was given the nickname “Portuguese Mars”. A bronze statue of the Lisbon lyricist Luis de Camões, who died at the age of 56, was registered here. A crater on Mercury is named after him.
He looks at those who came from the portrait of Vasco da Gama. Of particular interest to visitors is the model of the flagship ship with the poetic name "San Gabriel", on which the fearless navigator reached the "land of spices". Statues of Hindu deities, Shiva linga, ancient scrolls, manuscripts, bas-reliefs, nautical charts, an exhibition of weapons is presented to the audience.
The top floor is occupied by a portrait gallery, where you can meet the governors and viceroys of Portugal. Looking at the various faces painted by artists influenced by the talented masters of Italy, you seem to come into contact with historical moments filled with exciting adventures and incredible cruelty during the discovery of mysterious unknown lands.
Basilica of Bom Jesus
It is perhaps impossible to find in the entire country a more sacred, energetically powerful place than the building located across the road, cruciform in plan (56x17x19 m) in the Baroque style, known to the entire Roman Catholic world. The construction was carried out according to the design of the Florentine architect, sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini. Granite and red laterite, which is quite common in the tropics, were chosen as building materials. Construction works which started in 1594, ended in record time, 11 years later. The church was consecrated by Archbishop Alexius de Menezes (May 1605). Its name means "Good Jesus".
The facade, cut through by six windows, is divided into 3 tiers and has three doors. The decor is columns of the Doric, Corinthian and Ionic orders - classical elements of the architecture of Ancient Greece.
Peace and tranquility reign inside. The interior impresses with its sophisticated sophistication. The floor is lined with white marble slabs and inlaid with semi-precious stones. Under the choir on the right side is the altar of St. Anthony, on the left is the wooden figure of F. Xavier. At the northern wall there is a cenotaph of the benefactor Jeronimo Mascarenas, who died in 1593. The work was carried out with the money bequeathed to him. Opposite is a carved pulpit with a canopy for conducting services, decorated with the images of the Son of God, evangelists, and church teachers. In the central part there is a baroque gilded altar 16 m high, 9 m wide, on a hill - a charming Divine Child in an unearthly glow. Behind him is a three-meter statue of the founder of the Jesuit Order, Ignatius of Loyola. The look of the defender of Christian teaching is turned upward, to the solar medallion, where the abbreviation “I H S” is engraved - the monogram of the Jesuits.
Millions of believers, even from far abroad, flock here with one goal: to venerate the remains of Xavier, beatified (1622). Padre Santo, as he was called, managed to direct hundreds of thousands of heretics and pagans to the righteous path. He dreamed of Christianizing the Celestial Empire, where he went (September 1552). While reading mass on Shangchuan Island, I lost consciousness. The 48-year-old apostolic nuncio, briefly suffering from fever, died on December 2 of the same year. Antonio's faithful servant, placing the deceased in a coffin he had put together, filling it with lime, buried him temporarily in a foreign land.
Two and a half months later, while he was being transported on a ship, the captain ordered the tombstone lid to be opened. People couldn’t believe their eyes: the body was perfectly preserved. Upon arrival in Malacca, he was reburied in a shroud, as required by the then tradition. The chronicles note: the plague raging on the Asian continent stopped during his funeral.
The relics delivered to the church remained incorrupt after 16 months. For three days those who wished were allowed to approach them. Many miracles happened. It seemed that death itself respected the missionary knight, whom the local people consider a patron.
The silver coffin is installed in a tomb made of marble and jasper. The sculptor Giovanni Foggini worked on it for 10 years, receiving as gratitude for eternal preservation the pillow where Francis’ head once lay. The Tuscan Duke Cosimo III de' Medici generously paid the master for his long, hard work. They say that the crystal cap was added after a sad incident when a parishioner, in a fit of ecstasy, tore off a piece of sacred flesh. Once a decade, the remains are put on display. The last time an important event occurred was in 2014.
Church of St. Cajetan
Walking along Ruo Direita street, you can’t help but linger near the snowy whiteness of the miracle building, topped with two twin towers and a huge dome, visible from afar. It is one of a kind. Appeared thanks to the Theatine monks.
The order was founded by K. Tiensky (protector of women in labor) from a noble noble family and Bishop Teatinsky, who later became Pontiff Paul the Fourth. Their goal is to save human souls through reforms among the clergy. Priests, living in society, had to work for the benefit of moral and religious perfection, taking strict monastic vows: chastity, complete obedience, renunciation of wealth. Their noble deeds flourished in Europe, America, and Persia.
Once, by order of Urban VIII, monks came to spread the truth of Christ to Golconda, but they were not allowed in (1639). After some thought, the servants of God settled in the Goan area. Having decided to build a hospital, we again encountered obstacles. The vice-governor was categorically against the hospital, demanding that they immediately leave the colony. One of the brothers went to an audience with His Highness John IV with a request to allow him to continue the work he had started. The monarch was so impressed by the presbyter’s decisive persistence that he agreed, and five years later he gave the go-ahead for the construction of a monastery monastery and church. This is how a beautiful basilica grew up, similar to the Roman St. Peter's Cathedral, not by chance: it was taken as a model (1661). At first the building was named in honor of the Mother of God of Divine Providence, then it was renamed.
At the entrance, on the threshold, the phrase is written: Domus mea Domus Orationis, which means, translated from Latin, “My house is a house of prayer.” The interior decoration harmoniously combines elements of fancy baroque with exquisite rococo. On the vault, which lets in a flowing stream of soft daylight, is an excerpt from the Gospel. The central altar is dedicated to the Mother of God. On the left and right there are three more, painted with exotic plant patterns and figures of soaring angels. The design of the altar images was carried out by graduates of the Italian school of painting. In the niches there are statues of saints.
During excavations, a well was discovered under the nave. Opinions about the origin of the find are divided. Some researchers argued that the architect deliberately provided a water source so that monsoon rainfalls would not wash away the foundation. Others pointed to a pagan sanctuary that had previously been located there. The spring is a part of it.
The crypt is a repository of lead coffins with the embalmed bodies of foreign officials. From here they were sent on their final journey to their homeland for burial. Some stayed in the crypt for over 30 years before leaving for home.
Among the well-kept church garden, the stone Cajetan stood thoughtfully on a pedestal, surrounded by a hedge of trimmed bushes. There is a black cassock on the shoulders, a book and rosary in the hands. Behind it you can see the seminary. The educational institution that trains pastors still operates today. In the depths one can see fragments of the royal gates leading to the once luxurious beautiful palace, which no longer exists.
This is just a small glimpse of what can be seen here. The 18th century brought dramatic changes: the ruling circles banned any missionary activity. Religious buildings were empty, the flock fled in all directions, the capital moved. But life goes on, in full swing, and everyone in it is happy with their own happiness. Today there are only a few functioning temples left; most are a silent reminder of significant facts of history that have sunk into eternity.