Basilica Of Bom Jesus And The Churches And Convents Of Goa

The Church and Convents of Goa is a serial institution located in the former capital of the Portuguese Indies, located on the west coast of India about 10 km east of the state capital Panjim. These seven monuments had a great influence during the 16th-18th centuries on the development of architecture, sculpture and painting by spreading the Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque architectural and art forms. throughout the Asian countries where Catholic missions were established. In doing so, they beautifully illustrated the work of the missionaries in Asia.

While each church in Old Goa is interesting in its own way, one of the most visited is the Basilica of Bom Jesus. It was built in 1605 so you can see elements of the late Renaissance in its structure. It took almost 11 years to complete the construction of the Basilica. This church has become famous in the Catholic world because it houses the tomb of St.Francis Xavier. St.Francis is famous for his missionary trips to the East. Although the complex's exterior is affected by the annual monsoon, Bom Jesus is the only church in Old Goa that has not been plastered on the outside. In the 1950s, one of the Portuguese conservationists removed the plaster saying that the stone would harden on its own over the years. Since then, no one has reinstalled the plaster, although there are numerous other restoration works in different parts of the complex. The Cathedral and Convents of Goa became a UNESCO heritage site in 1986.