Goa is usually the place people go to find themselves. Or lose their phones.

But there’s a side of Goa that doesn’t wear bikinis or serve shackside Kingfisher.

It wears marble.

It speaks Portuguese.

And it smells like candles, heritage, and holy drama.

I’m talking about the Churches and Convents of Old Goa — a collection of sacred buildings so beautiful, they make you feel like you stepped into a European Netflix period drama... except it’s 34 degrees and someone’s honking outside.

And yes — the entire complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1986), which means even the world agrees this place is worth sweating through.

A Little Historical Holy Flashback

Let’s roll back the calendar.

1510 CE – The Portuguese Invasion

Under Afonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese captured Goa from the ruling Bijapur Sultanate. Why? Spice trade. Naval dominance. And because Portugal was flexing hard in the Indian Ocean. But it wasn’t just trade they brought — it was Catholicism with a vengeance.

For the next 450 years, Goa became the capital of Portuguese India, and the missionaries got to work. They built cathedrals, churches, chapels, colleges, and monasteries — and used them both as houses of worship and instruments of conversion and control.

Some of these churches? Pure masterpieces. Others? Sites of intense colonial tension.

Today, they stand as architectural jewels — and as monuments to a very layered past.

What to See – The Full Faith Tour (Bring Water & Respect)

All these monuments are located in Old Goa (Velha Goa), about 10 km east of Panjim. You can walk or hire a bike/tuktuk to church-hop.

1. Basilica of Bom Jesus

This one’s the rockstar.

• Houses the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit missionary who came in the 1500s and never really left

• The body is kept in a silver casket in a marble mausoleum designed by Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini

• Every 10 years, his body is publicly displayed (next display: TBA)

• The basilica is Baroque architecture, but rugged — with a laterite exterior and a gold- plated altar inside

You walk in and instantly feel the weight of history. And maybe a little goosebumps.

2. Se Cathedral (Sé Catedral de Santa Catarina)

• The largest church in India

• Dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria

• Built to commemorate the Portuguese victory over Muslims in 1510

• Features the Golden Bell, said to have the most rich and melodious tone in Goa

• The altar is grand, whitewashed, and gilded in classic Iberian Catholic style

It’s so big, I got lost inside for 7 minutes. True story.

3. Church of St. Francis of Assisi

• Twin-flanked towers, Portuguese-Manueline style, rich stucco work

• Inside? 17th-century paintings, altarpieces, and wood carvings of saints who look mildly upset with your lifestyle choices

• There’s a quiet museum here now, displaying Christian relics, sculptures, and

Portuguese royal seals

4. Chapel of St. Catherine

• Small but significant — marks the actual spot where Albuquerque entered Goa in 1510

• You don’t go here for size. You go for feeling

• One of the oldest chapels in Goa, originally built in 1510, rebuilt in 1550

5. Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

• Located on a hill, near the ruins of the old palace of Adil Shah

• One of the earliest examples of Manueline architecture in Goa

• Feels peaceful and disconnected from the crowd — a real moment of reflection

Architectural Notes – Europe, But Make It Tropical

• Baroque interiors: ornate altars, twisted columns, golden frills

• Manueline Gothic: floral details, rope motifs, cross-in-circle windows

• Tuscan exteriors: classical pillars, high arches, thick laterite walls to survive Goa’s monsoon mood swings

• Indian adaptations: local stone, clay tiles, wood beams — all blended perfectly Basically, you’ll find Portuguese Catholic architecture wearing an Indian lungi and pulling it off.

The Faith Lives On

Even today, these churches are not just monuments — they’re active places of worship.

• Sunday Mass is in English, Konkani, and Portuguese

• Pilgrims from India and abroad flock here — especially on St. Francis Xavier’s feast day (Dec 3)

• Weddings, choirs, and candle-lit prayers happen daily — adding a quiet, living heartbeat to these historic stones

Pop Culture + Film Alert

• Featured in documentaries, travel shows, and church architecture books

• Songs and scenes from Bollywood movies (Dil Chahta Hai, Josh, etc.) shot in and around Old Goa

• Instagram reels: too many to count. Posing in front of Se Cathedral is a Goa rite of passage.

Hungry? Here's Heaven for the Stomach

Viva Panjim Restaurant

In Fontainhas, ~15 mins from Old Goa

What to eat:

• Pork Vindaloo – spicy, tangy, Goa in a bowl

• Goan Fish Curry Rice – simple, local, perfect

• Bebinca for dessert – layered Goan pudding made with coconut and love

• Sip on a chilled Sol Kadi and rethink your life decisions

Alternatively:

• Ritz Classic, Mum’s Kitchen, or local stalls selling Poi-bread sandwiches and Choris Pav

How to Reach Churches of Old Goa

By Air:

• Nearest airport: Goa International Airport (Dabolim) – 25 km

• Taxi to Old Goa takes ~45 mins

By Train:

• Nearest station: Karmali Railway Station – just 3 km from Old Goa

• Major trains stop at Madgaon and Vasco da Gama

By Road:

• From Panaji: 10 km (take a bike, cab, or bus)

• Buses are cheap and frequent

• Easy to bike around if you're adventurous (and don’t mind cows suddenly crossing your path)

UNESCO Status Details

• Designated: 1986

• Why UNESCO?

Outstanding examples of Portuguese colonial architecture, art, and influence in Asia; fusion of

European and local building styles over 4 centuries.

Final Thoughts – Faith, Power, Art... and Dusty Awe

You go to Goa expecting beach parties and return with Baroque afterthoughts and a strange need to light a candle in silence.

The Churches and Convents of Goa aren’t just historical structures — they’re the bones of a centuries-old spiritual empire. A reminder of how empires rose, missionaries wandered, and somehow, art and faith survived the politics.

With Nadodigal, you don’t just visit. You listen. You stare. You may be sweat. And you always, always remember.