Church of St Anne

Panaji & Central Goa


About 5km north of Goa Velha, in the small village of Talaulim, the massive Church of St Anne (known to the local people simply as Santana) is an imposing 17th-century structure which, after years of monsoon rain and neglect, had begun to crumble. Restoration work in the early 2000s brought the stunning facade largely back to its former glory as one of the greatest churches of its type – baroque, with Indian influences – in existence. Its massive five-storey facade is covered in intricate carving, and the interior – largely dating from the 18th and 19th centuries – is still intact. If you find the chapel locked, tug on the church bell to summon the key-holder.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Panaji & Central Goa attractions

1. Monastery of St Augustine

1.78 MILES

The melancholy, evocative ruins of this once vast and impressive Augustinian monastery are all that remain of a huge structure founded in 1572 and…

2. Ruins of the Church of St Augustine

1.79 MILES

Standing on Holy Hill (Monte Santo) is perhaps the most mournful memorial to Old Goa’s fallen might. All that’s left today of the Church of St Augustine…

3. Chapel of St Anthony

1.82 MILES

The Chapel of St Anthony, dedicated to the saint of the Portuguese army and navy, was one of the earliest to be built in Goa, again on the directions of…

4. Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

1.84 MILES

Passing beneath the buttresses of the Convent of St Monica, about 250m further along the road is the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, which stands on the…

6. Museum of Christian Art

1.88 MILES

This museum, housed in part of the 1627 Convent of St Monica, contains a collection of statues, paintings and sculptures. Interestingly, many of the works…

8. Church & Convent of St Monica

1.91 MILES

Work on this three-storey laterite church and convent commenced in 1606 and was completed in 1627, only to burn down nine years later. Reconstruction…