Description
The Basílica do Bom Jesus (Basilica of the Good Jesus) in Velha Goa (Old Goa). It is India’s first Basilica minor and is regarded as one of the most significant examples of Portuguese Baroque architecture in India. The foundation stone was laid in 1594, and the building was completed in 1605. The façade is made of granite and combines Corinthian, Doric and Ionic elements. Unlike many other churches in Goa, the exterior walls are not plastered, giving it its characteristic appearance of dark laterite stone. The church is world-famous as the resting place of Saint Francis Xavier. His remains lie in an ornate tomb inside. In 1986, the basilica was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. – 1990
