Goa is best known as a tourist paradise, both in India and abroad. Lavishly gifted by nature for its scenic beauty, virgin beaches girdling its 105-km long palm-fringed coast interspersed with enchanting coves, bays and estuaries, paddy fields, shady coconut, cashew and mango groves dotted with tiny picturesque villages, temples and churches renowned for worship and pilgrims, forts and monuments and above all, friendly and hospitable people, Goa presents an ideal tourism profile.

Church of Basellica

Goa is renowned for its churches and cathedrals particularly Se Cathedral, Church and Convent of St.Francis of Assisi, Chapel of St. Catherin, Bascilica of Bom Jesus, Church of Lady of Rosary; Church of St. Augustine which were built during 16th and 17th century AD. Se Cathedral is the largest of the churches in Old Goa, built for the Dominicans. The building style is Portuguese Gothic with a Tuscan exterior and Corinthian interior. The tower houses one of the largest bells in Goa, often called `Golden Bell`. The main altar is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria and paintings on either side depict scenes from her life and martyrdom. Convent and Church of St . Francis of Assisi, is one of the most interesting buildings in Old Goa. It contains gilded and carved woodwork, old murals depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis and a floor subsequently made of carved gravestones complete with the family coats of arms. A convent behind the church is now the archeological museum housing portraits of the Portuguese viceroys, sculpture fragments from the Hindu temple sites, stone images from the animist cult that flourished in this part of India centuries ago, etc. Basilica of Bom Jesus, is famous throughout the Roman Catholic world. It contains a tomb and mortal remains of St. Francis Zavier, in a silver casket. On the walls surrounding it are murals depicting scenes from the saint`s journeys and of his death on Sancian island. It has richly gilded altars and the interior of the church is remarkable for its simplicity. The Church of St.Cajetan is modelled on the original design of St.Peter`s Church in Rome