Of Churches, Monuments and their history

Basilica of Bom Jesus

The Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous through out the Roman Catholic world. It contains the tomb and mortal remains of
St Francis Xavier, called 'Apostle of the Indies'. A former pupil of St Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order, St Francis Xavier's missionary voyages became legendary and considering the state of transport at the time, they were nothing short of miraculous.

This is the only church in Old Goa, which is not plastered on the outside, the lime plaster having been stripped off by a zealous Portuguese conservationist in 1950. Construction began in 1594 and the church was completed in 1605. The façade has elements of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian design, and the pillars and detail are carved from basalt which was brought from Bassein, some 300km away.

Inside the basilica the layout is simple but grand. A simple wooden one has now replaced the original vaulted ceiling. To the left of the door as you enter the basilica is a statue of Si Francis Xavier, but the visitor's attention is drawn to the huge and ornate gilded reredos which stretches from floor to ceiling behind the altar.

Next door to the basilica is the Professed House of the Jesuits, a two storey laterite building covered with lime plaster which actually predates the basilica, having been completed in 1585. It was from here that Jesuit missions to the east were organised. Part of the building burned down in 1633 and was partially rebuilt in 1783.