By Thomas Tholath (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons |
Its exposed brick red exteriors with huge front façade add
to its ancient charm. The basilica was once covered in white plaster as many
other churches in Goa. However in 1950, the white plaster was removed to retain
the authentic look of the Basilica.
External walls of Basilica of Bom Jesus |
The interior of Basilica is kept simple except the grand golden
altar creating a perfect contrast. On a closer look, the altar reveals many
intricate sculptures and delicate floral patterns which is a specialty of the
Baroque architecture. One can spent hours just looking at the marvelous altar.
Altar of Basilica of Bom Jesus |
The Bom Jesus Basilica is a huge church with a beautiful
central courtyard. It houses a typical Portuguese style fountain in the middle.
Interior of Basilica of Bom Jesus - UNESCO World heritage site - Goa India |
Interior of Basilica of Bom Jesus - UNESCO World heritage site - Goa India |
It originally had two
towers on the either side. The one in right side collapsed in the year 1776 and
was never rebuilt. This is visible from the front view of the Sé Cathedral.
It has white plastered
interiors and the floor is tiled with stone. It has multiple altars on the
sides of the main Altar dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria.
Next to the “Se Cathedral” there is a small chapel situated
in a beautiful garden. It is known as the Chapel of St. Catherin. This humble
chapel has a great history behind it. It was the first religious structure
built in old Goa in the year 1510 by Alfonso De Albuquerque to mark his entry
into the old Goa city, defeating the Adil Shahi ruler of the old Goa.
It is very easy to
miss this small chapel but there is a unique charm to this place. The chapel is
well maintained, but not used for religious purpose. As it is not visited by
many tourists, there is always a silence clinging to this place.
It’s indeed quite disturbing to just look at the abandoned
brick red altar. Every time I enter this chapel I spend few moments in silence.
I think of the thousands of men died in the war which lead to the construction
of this chapel. Peace is always a costly reward of the war!
Another church which is a must see is the “Our Lady of the
Immaculate Conception Church”. It was built in the year of 1540 and stands
right in the middle of the Panjim city. Its pure white color, the crisscross
stairs and the bell tower on the top makes this church quite picturesque. It is
a famous icon of Goa, which has made appearance in many movies including the
famous “Josh”.
Wow, beautiful photos! I'm ashamed to admit that I was in Goa for a week but never went into the colonial centre, let alone in a church... I was at the beach but the main problem was that it was the rainy season & it poured every time I went to leave the hotel... thanks for showing me what I missed out on, I will have to go back!
ردحذفWow, stunning. Love the Baroque architecture style. I love visiting churches and cathedrals, and religious sites while we're abroad - they are always the most fascinating, stunning and interesting buildings, with the most amazing history to them. Whether you're religious or not.
ردحذفTrust the Portuguese to build these amazing buildings. Wow i did not know there as this many amazing building in and around Goa. We love UNESCO sites and have been to around 40 of them. This looks like an amazing place to visit
ردحذفI love churches from a historical point of view, and the silence around small chapels always calms me down. There were times I just sat and worked in such a chapel, it was better than a library!
ردحذفWow, that's magnificent and I just learnt that the Portuguese also set foot in India in the colonial times. I recognized many of the architectural structures from my trip to Portugal and brought back a lot of memories. I would want to visit Goa and witness the churches myself! @knycx.journeying
ردحذفA visit to Goa rejoices and pumps new energy from your hectic schedule. The amazing beaches, water sports, adventure activities, cuisine are considered as limelight of Goa. However, that’s not everything; grandeur of Goa is the architectural symphony that can be found on various convents and churches. The beauty of Goa is doubled by presence of numerous ancient master pieces displayed on churches.
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ردحذفInteresting, You conetnt is really good.
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