Location : Old Goa, 10 kms from east of Panaji
Built in: 1594
Architectural Style: A Mixture of Renaissance and Baroque Styles
When To Go: September - November

Renowned throughout the Catholic world, the Basilica of Bom Jesus houses the mortal remains of Goa's patron saint, St. Francis Xavier, who died while on a sea voyage to China on December 2, 1552. Attached to the church is a modern art gallery, the Bom Jesus Church art gallery. It's the first and largest art gallery in Asia.

HistoryThe construction began in 1594 and on 15th May 1605, the church was inaugurated by Dom FR. Aleixo de Menezes, the Archbishop. Since then, it has remained the most popular church in Goa and it is dedicated to baby Jesus. The major attraction of the church is the body of St. Francis Xavier which was transferred from St. Paul's church after the body was canonized in 1662.

ArchitectureThe sound and light show would surely enrich your knowledge about the life of Blessed Joseph Vaz, St. Francis Xavier and most importantly, Christ. The art gallery displays 36 splendid oil paintings of the 20th century.The sacred place of worship was designed by two priests, Diogo de Borba and Minguel Vaz and displays an impeccable work of Renaissance architecture. To the left is an exceedingly well-carved wooden statue of St. Francis Xavier, nestling beneath the choir. Once in every 10 years, the Church allows devotees to see the embalmed body of the saint, which lies in an airtight glass coffin placed in a silver casket crafted by a 17th century Florentine sculptor, Giovanni Batista Foggini. It's an opulent structure which incorporates white marble, and is best known for the tomb of St Francis Xavier, which it houses. The embalmed body of the saint, who died in 1552, was gifted to the church by Cosimo de Medici III, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Opposite the cenotaph, projecting on the southern wall is a elegantly carved wooden pulpit with a canopy at the apex. The pulpit has on its three sides the figures of Jesus, the four Evangelists - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.