Location : Old Goa, Panaji
Built in: 1602
Architectural Style: Italian Style
When To Go: September - November

Built in 1602, the only ruin of the Church of St. Augustine on the Holy Hill at Old Goa near the Nunnery, is a lofty 46-metre high tower defying the torrential rains. The Government appropriated the property selling the materials the following year. The façade and half of the tower fell in 1931 and some more parts of it collapsed in 1938. The Church when intact was perhaps the biggest in Goa. With the religious suppression in 1835, the Augustinians deserted the church and the convent. The tower is one of the four towers of St. Augustine Church that once stood at the site. Initially built of laterite and colossal in size, almost forty-six metres high, it had four storeys. Out of the more than twenty fabulous churches which once existed in the old city of Velha Goa, only ten remain today. And of these four are actually chapels. After the church was demolished in 1798 and the Rowe Chapel, built in 1614 which survived until 1896 the tower remained as an important feature of Hackneys history. Built in the 13th century the church and tower were then dedicated to St John after 1660 once Sir John Heron, Lord of the Manor and the rector Christpher Urswyck had restored it. The church was abandoned in 1835 due to the repressive policies of the Portuguese government, which resulted in the eviction of many religious orders from Goa. Unfortunately, most of the magnificent churches in Old Goa do not exist anymore and they are now nothing more than just ruined towers or altars.

How To ReachThe church is situated opposite the Royal Chapel of St Anthony and it is a 5 minute walk from the Basilica..