Introducing Old Goa
Gazing at Old Goa today it’s hard to believe that this fallen city was once able to stand up to Lisbon and demand, ‘Who’s the man?’. But back in the 1500s and with a population exceeding that of Lisbon and London, that’s exactly what Old Goa was able to do. However the good times didn’t last long and both the Inquisition and a major epidemic did their best to decimate this decadent and immoral dollop of Portugal. Finally, in 1843, the capital was shifted to the far more prim and proper Panaji.
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All that’s now left of Golden Goa are half-a-dozen imposing churches and cathedrals (among the largest in Asia) and an awful lot of atmosphere.
Old Goa can get crowded on weekends and in the 10 days leading up to the Feast of St Francis Xavier on 3 December. The Archaeological Survey of India publishes the useful guide Old Goa (Rs 10), available from the archaeological museum.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: India - Goa
by richman 13 September 2011
the museum in Velha Goa, Old Goa, has plenty of portuguese artifacts, paintings, documents: you can learn quite a lot there
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RE: Goa Accommodation and Plans in October
by Jennifer2995 13 July 2011
Thank you. I think we'll be making a stop in Panaji for at least one night to see a bit of the town and Old Goa and do the river cruise.…
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Re: Andaman Islands for 1 week but north or south for the other week?
by OnkelMac 12 July 2011
I would disagree with the ones saying that Goa sucks. Spent a month there last november, loved parts of it, didn't like parts of it that…
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