Church of St. Francis of Assisi
Location
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is located in Old Goa, 9 Km
from Panaji.
About the Church
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is situated in the same
compound, where Se Cathedral stands. The church is a beautiful
building, constructed during 1517-1521 AD. Initially a chapel, it
got converted into a church in 1521 AD and was dedicated to the Holy
Ghost in 1602 AD. There used to be a convent in the church. The
Portuguese government closed the convent in 1835 AD. The church has
been converted into a museum by the Archaeological Survey of India
in 1964. The church displays artifacts, paintings and pieces of
Hindu temple sculptures from Goa.
Architecture of the Building
The Church of St. Francis has been designed very finely. The church
is much smaller than the Se Cathedral and the Basilica of Bom Jesus,
and although it’s heavily painted and there are profusely
carved altars, the aura is one of muted dignity. The pattern painted
on the ceiling near the door has a distinct Indian touch to it. The
architecture is a combination of the Tuscan style from the exterior
and the Mosaic-Corinthian style from the interior. The interior of
the church is gilded with the scenes from the Bible and wall
frescoes show intricate floral designs. The niche of the façade
holds the statue of St Michael and a wooden statue of St Francis
Assisi decorates the pedestal in one of its chapel. A heavily carved
niche with tabernacle supported by four evangelists can be seen in
the main altar. Two huge statues, one of St Francis Assisi and the
other of the Jesus on the Cross, are placed above the tabernacle.
Getting there:
Old Goa can be reached by Taxi, Bus, Auto-rickshaw or Motorcycle.
The city can be explored on taxi, motorbike or on foot. The Church
of St. Francis of Assisi is near the church of Bom Jesus, which is
easily accessible on foot.
Accommodations:
Goa has a vast option for stay. There are many luxury, star rated
and budget hotels available all over Goa. Old Goa is also no
exception. One can also opt for stay in Panaji, 10 Km from Old Goa.
Government of India and Goa Government also have hotels and guest
houses in Goa.
