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GoaCentral > Sightseeing > Churches of Goa > Churches around Panaji
Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at PanajiThis was reportedly one of the first Churches to be built in Goa , estimated around 1540's. It was built there because of the high ground it stood on. It was rebuilt in 1619. After Panjim became the capital city , the great bell of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Old Goa or the "Bell of the Inquisition" was moved to this church from Aguada in 1841. At the same time, the renovation created the four tiered steps leading to the church. The interior is simple and is dedicated to Mary. There are two altars on either side , the one on the left dedicated to Jesus and the one on the right to Our Lady of Rosary. On either side is a statue of St Peter and St Paul. In the south transept to the right of the main altar is the Chapel of St Francis Xavier, with his statue. It formerly stood in the Idalcao's Palace and was moved here when the chapel there was dismantled in 1918.
Church
of St. Anne at Talaulim
The church dedicated to St Ana, the grandmother of Jesus Christ is a remarkable piece of ancient Christian architecture in the country. It was built in 1695 on the right bank of Siridao river and has picturesque surroundings. This
Church is the finest example of India’s baroque achievements.
The inside plan is cruciform, the arms forming the transept and the
pedestal. This church has an imposing
cylindrical roof. In
this monumental church we find use of regional motif, like lotuses, palm leaves,
tropical fruits and amalabers. Myrobalans
– in the decoration of the walls and woodwork. Each architectural unit such as
windows or niche of any structure needs its own frame and compartment in an
Indian architectural norm. This has been followed in St. Anne can be seen on the
façade of St. Anne. European
Baroque churches usually have one entablature crowning a single order of
pilaster. However, this church has two
orders, made possible by dwarfing the proportions of the pilasters. Another unique feature of this church is this that it has hollow walls through which people could walk in secrecy for the purpose of confession. Chapel
of St. Jerome at Chorao
On the top of the hillocks at Madel, the Chapel of St. Jerome is situated. This Chapel has been constructed on an elevated ground with its entrance towards the South. It is a circular structure with a drum and dome over it. There is a pillared verandah, around this chapel. The tiled roof of this verandah is sloppy and is supported by square stone pillars. The wall of the chapel is of laterite and it is plastered with lime and cement. The outer diameter of this chapel is approximately 28.8 meters and its internal diameter is 5.75 meters. There is a high stone platform in the northern end of this chapel. There are two small windows on the wall of this chapel. The superstructure of this chapel is topped by a small octagonal tower, which in turn is capped by another small dome. It
is commonly believed that here originally stood a church, a seminary and a
convent, all located at the foot of the hill and believed to have been built
during the 16th century AD. Today however, no structures remain. It appears that
the chapel of St. Jerome is the only ancient chapel in Goa with a circular plan.
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