Church of St Francis of Assisi

The Church of St Francis of Assisi stands beside Se Cathedral in Old Goa and was founded by Franciscan friars who arrived in Goa in 1517. Their first chapel was built in 1521, and the present church was rebuilt in 1661, keeping the earlier Manueline-style main doorway. The exterior is Tuscan in style, but the interior is one of the most richly decorated in Old Goa. Its walls and ceiling are covered in paintings and floral frescoes, and panels depict scenes from the life of St Francis. The gilded main altar and carved woodwork are highlights. The floor is laid with old tombstones bearing coats of arms. The adjoining convent now houses the Archaeological Museum of Old Goa. The church is part of the UNESCO-listed Churches and Convents of Goa, and is worth the trip for its remarkable interior art.