Church of St Francis of Assisi

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is in Old Goa, 9 Km from the capital Panaji. This revered place of worship is an attractive building, constructed during the period 1517-1521 AD. Initially a chapel, it got altered into a place of worship in 1521 AD and was dedicated to the Holy Ghost in 1602 AD. In the olden days there used to be a convent within the church as well. The Portuguese government shut the convent in 1835 AD. Nowadays, the place of worship has been altered into a repository by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1964. It now exhibits artefacts, paintings and Hindu temple sculptures from Goa. The Church of St. Francis has been conceived very finely. Though it is much smaller in size than the Se Cathedral. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, is very ornately decorated and the altars have profuse carvings.

The pattern decorations on the ceiling beside the doorway have a distinct Indian feel to it. The architecture is a blend of the Tuscan method from the exterior and the Mosaic-Corinthian method from the interior. The centre of the Church is gilded with the scenes from the Bible and partition frescoes display elaborate floral designs. The niche of the façade retains the figurine of St Michael and a timber figurine of St Francis Assisi adorns the pedestal in one of its chapel. A very powerfully carved niche with tabernacle sustained by four evangelists can be glimpsed in the major altar. Two gigantic figurines, one of St Francis Assisi and the other of the Jesus on the Cross, are put overhead the tabernacle. Old Goa can be come to by taxi, bus, auto-rickshaw or motorcycle. The town can be discovered on cab, motorcycle or on foot. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is beside the place of adoration of Bom Jesus, which is also easily accessible.