Archaeological Museum Old Goa

The Archaeological Museum in Old Goa occupies the former convent of St Francis of Assisi, next to the church of the same name. It was established by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1964. The museum's most recognisable exhibit is a large bronze statue of Afonso de Albuquerque, who captured Goa for Portugal in 1510, which greets visitors at the entrance. Its galleries hold sculptures from Goa's pre-Portuguese past, including Hindu sculptures and hero stones from the Kadamba period. Upstairs, a portrait gallery shows a long series of paintings of Portuguese viceroys and governors who ruled Goa. Other exhibits include coins, weapons and Portuguese-era objects. The museum is compact and can be seen in under an hour. It is worth the trip for the context it gives to the churches around it.