Church of Our Lady of the Rosary — Local services in Goa

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Goa ⛪⛱️ Historic Serenity on Holy Hill

Perched majestically atop Monte Santo (Holy Hill) in Old Goa, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is a fascinating blend of history, architecture, and serene beauty. Constructed in 1544, this ancient church was built as a fulfillment of a vow by the Portuguese general Afonso de Albuquerque after his victorious conquest of Goa in 1510. Imagine a commander surveying his battlefield and vowing to build a church right there—talk about a strategic divine intervention!

The church’s architecture is a delightful mix of Gothic and Manueline styles, with its simple yet elegant design reflecting the early Renaissance influence brought by the Portuguese. The church’s two-story portico, built with laterite and lime mortar, along with its wooden raftered roof, gives it a rustic yet grand appeal. The walls are adorned with miniature carved pillars and Portuguese inscriptions, adding to its historical charm.

One of the unique aspects of this church is its connection to St. Francis Xavier, who is said to have performed the marriage ceremony of Dona Catarina and Viceroy Garcia De Sa here. This event is immortalized with a marble cenotaph inside the church, making it a significant historical landmark.

For those looking to visit, the church is open every day from 9 AM to 5:30 PM, with no entry fee. It's a perfect spot to soak in some history while enjoying a panoramic view of the Mandovi River and Divar Island. If you visit in November, you might catch the annual feast, complete with traditional processions, fireworks, dance performances, and Konkani concerts.

So, whether you’re a history buff, an architecture enthusiast, or just someone looking for a peaceful retreat, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Goa is a must-visit. And remember, if you hear any distant battle cries, it’s probably just Afonso de Albuquerque cheering you on...

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is located just a few miles away from the Basilica of Bom Jesus.You can see the divar island and atal setu bridge view from the church.

The church stands on the site of Portuguese leader Alfonso de Albuquerque's victory over the armies of Bijapur Sultan in 1510. In fact the Lady of Rosary church is believed to be built by de Albuquerque as a sign of gratitude for his victory.From here it is beloved that the first Governor General of Goa over saw the Portuguese fight back and take charge of the land from the Muslim settler of Bijapur.As a vow to the divine, Afonso De Albuquerque envisioned building a hermitage home, dedicate to the venerated Mother Of Jesus.

Built in 1544-47 in fulfillment of a vow taken by Afonso de Albuquerque after his victorious conquest of Goa in 1510.The church is an excellent example of Manueline style architecture of the early Portuguese.The church has three altars and two chapels. The main altar is dedicated to the Lady of Rosary. There is a marble cenotaph to the right of the main altar and it commemorates the marriage of Dona Catharina with Viceroy Garcia De Sa that was performed by St. Francis Xavier.

With windows near the roof and rounded towers, the church looks more like a fortress. The church has a two storied portico. It is built with laterite and plastered with lime mortar. The portico as well as the facade of the church has rounded towers on either side with the cross on top. The church roof is tiled and is supported by wooden rafters.The walls are adorned with miniature carved pillars and Portuguese inscriptions, adding to its...

The Church of Our Lady of Rosary is located atop the Monte Santo or the Holy Hill. The church stands on the site of Portuguese leader Alfonso de Albuquerque's victory over the armies of Bijapur Sultan in 1510. In fact the Lady of Rosary church is believed to be built by de Albuquerque as a sign of gratitude for his victory.

From here it’s is beloved that the first Governor General of Goa over saw the Portuguese fight back and take charge of the land from the Muslim settler of Bijapur

As a vow to the divine, Afonso De Albuquerque envisioned building a hermitage home, dedicate to the venerated Mother Of Jesus

The church is an excellent example of Manueline style architecture of the early Portuguese. With windows near the roof and rounded towers, the church looks more like a fortress. The church has a two storied portico. It is built with laterite and plastered with lime mortar. The portico as well as the facade of the church has rounded towers on either side with the cross on top. The church roof is tiled and is supported by wooden rafters.

The church has three alters and two chapels. The main alter is dedicated to the Lady of Rosary. There is a marble cenotaph to the right of the main alter and it commemorates the marriage of Dona Catharina with Viceroy Garcia De Sa that was performed by St. Francis Xavier.

Kaazan lands which were artificial watered by creating by a barrier land between the sea and land. Then a channel was left open which would all the steady steam of water from particular point to enter deeper portions of the landmass which could then be used to...