An ode to Old Goa

A gift from the Portuguese colonisers, the heritage structures exhibiting architectural styles from the baroque, gothic to the post-colonial, the erstwhile capital of the Portuguese empire – Old Goa is dotted with churches and chapels forming a stark contrast against the sunny skies of the state. These monuments stand tall as the stoic guardians of the ethos of the respective eras they represent. One can marvel at different forms of architectural magnificence brained out from the Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustinians, Carmelites all leaving behind their mark on the landscape of Goa. Be it the pristine white Church of St. Cajetan with Corinthian design sensibilities or the Doric remains of Church of St. Paul, the Manuline entrance of the St. Francis of Assisi with Baroque altar, the haunting facade of the St. Augustine Tower, the imposing white facade of the Reis Magos Church, the opulence of St, Anne in Talaulim, and of course, one of the most significant landmarks and places to visit in Goa, the Basilica of Bom Jesus constructed from black granite is a stunning example of the Mosaico-Corinthian architectural style. Old Goa is not just limited to these wistful reminders of the past but many more spots to cover.