Churches :
Se
Cathedral: It is the largest Churches in Old Goa, which began
church service in 1562 during the reign of King Dom Sebastiao(1557-8). It
was fairly complete by 1619, though the altars were not finished until 1652.
The cathedral was built for the Dominicans and paid for by royal treasury
out of the proceeds of the sale of crown property. The buildings style is
Portuguese-Gothic with a Tuscan exterior and Corinthian interior. They were
once two tower a, one either side of the facade, but one collapsed in 1776.
The remaining tower houses a famous bell, the largest in Goa, often called
Golden Bell because of it's rich & deep sound. The main altar is
dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandra, and painting on either side of it
depicts scenes from life to martydom.
Church of St Francis of
Assisi : It is one of the most intricate buildings in Old Goa. It
contains gilded and carved woodwork, old murals depicting scenes from the
life of St Francis, a floor substantially made of carved gravestones
complete with family coats of arms dating back to the early 16th century.
The church was built by eight Franciscan friars who arrived here in 1517.
They initially constructed a small chapel consisting of three altars and a
choir. This was later pulled down and the present building was built on the
same spot and completed in 1661.
The convent at the back of this church
is now the Archaeological Museum (open Saturday to Thursday, 10 am to 5 pm
entry free). Church of St Cajetan: A copy on
the original design of St Peter's in Rome, this church was built by Italian
friars of the Order of Theatines, who were sent by Pope Urban III to preach
Christianity in the town of Golconda (near Hyderabad). The friars were not
permitted to work in Golconda, so settled at Old Goa in 1640. The
construction of the church began in 1655.
Church of St
Augustine Ruins :
Hardly anything remains of this church, just the huge 46 mt. tower which
served as a belfry and formed part of the facade of the church. The few
other remnants are covered with creepers and weeds, hardly accessible. The
church was constructed in 1602 by Augustine friars. It was abandoned in 1835
due to the repressive policies of the Portuguese government, which resulted
in the eviction of many religious orders from Goa. The church fell into
neglect and the vault collapsed in 1842.
Temples
: Shri Bhagavati: The temple, situated by the
side of the main road in Pernem, is said to be more than 500 years old. Two
life size images of elephants in standing position, made of blackstone, on
either side at the entrance welcomes visitors. The Goddess Bhagavati
Ashtabhuja in a sanding position on a high pedestal is very imposing.
Dusshera is celebrated with gaiety from Asvin Shuddha Pratipada to Poornima
when over 25 thousand devotees assemble at the temple.
Shri
Bhagatvati Temple at Parshem: Situated at a distance of 7kms. from
Pernem in Pernem Taluka, the complex has five temples, main temple being
Shri Bhagavati, other temples are of Shri Sateri, Shridev Ravalnath, Shri
Dev Bhivangi Panchakshari & Bhrama
Brahma Temple:
7kms. from Valpoi, in the village of Carambolim Brahma. This Shrine belongs
to the 5ht century A.D. It is one of the few temples dedicated to Lord
Brahma that is found in India.
Mosques
: Jama Masjid: 26kms. from Margoa at Sanguem.
The Jama Masjid was completely renovated in 1959. The new structure is
remarkable for its harmonious proportions and elegant simplicity. It has
four minarets whilst the entrance facade is flanked by two elegant turrets
surmounted by pillared kiosks. A dome shaped kiosk rises in the centre of
the four minarets.
Safa Shahouri Masjid: It is the
biggest and most famous of the 27 mosque in Ponda taluka and built in 1560
by Ibrahim Adilshah of Bijapur. The mosque and tank were formerly surrounded
by lush gardens and fountains. They were all destroyed during the Portuguese
rule. The two major festivals Id UI-Fitr and Ud-Duha are celebrated at this
mosque with great pomp and show.
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