The fascinatingly beautiful churches of Goa are a legacy of Portuguese colonization. Since the arrival of Vasco da Gama on the Indian shores, India became a perfect place for Portugal to seek for spices. While the Portuguese continued to trade in India, there ambition changed from trade to conquest and before long huge area of Goa fell in the hands of the Portuguese. The religious zealots in their fanaticism to establish superiority over the inhabitants of the land, started a frenzy of religious conversion and establishment of churches over the ruins of temples.
With a significant number of Christian population, Churches of Goa play an extremely important part in the socio-economic life of the people of Goa. The churches of Goa were built during a period stretching from more than 400 years and are divided into four stages depending on the special architectural features. Our Lady of Rosary on Monte Santo is the oldest church in Goa. This architectural style is called "Manueline" after King Emmanuel of Portugal who ruled the place during that time.
The Baroque Period is known as the "Golden Age" of missionary activities. Some of the finest churches of Goa like Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral and Church of St Cajetan. The churches of this period have a mixture of Tuscan, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian style. After the baroque period, churches were continued to be built. These churches had a marked local influence in terms of theme and architectural style. This period is called the Indian Baroque Period.
After the Indian baroque period, the churches that were made, were often small in structure. In terms of design, however, the churches were exquisite. The churches clearly suggested a shift in priority of Portuguese colonialism. The religious zeal and fervor was gone and the style was influenced by aestheticism. Churches built during the modern period i.e. after 1900, ware influenced by the Gothic style of rigid structure. All these things make Churches of Goa a wonderful tourist attraction. |
