Location : Old Goa, Panaji
Built In : 1550
When To Go : September - November
Positioning of The Church
The Chapel Of St.Catherine situated in Old Goa is dedicated to St.
Catherine. It stands as a living monument of the conquest of Goa by
Alburquerque. The Chapel of St Catherine is towards the west of the Church
of St Francis of Assisi.
History
TIt is a living example of the repression of Goa by Alfonso de Albuquerque.
The church is devoted to St Catherine because Albuquerque captured Goa on
the St Catherine's Day ie 25th November 1510 AD. Governor Jorge enlarged the
chapel in 1550 AD. Pope Paul III lifted the status of the chapel to that of
a Cathedral sees a Papal Bill in 1534 AD. This Chapel persisted as a
cathedral till Se Cathedral was built.
Architectural Splendour of The Chapel
This chapel is built of laterite blocks and has a tower on either side of
the façade. The chapel in the interior possess only one altar which
is plain. As you enter the chapel, you will see a statue of Our Lady. There
is also a beautiful altar dedicated to St. Catherine upon which stands
another statue of Our Lady Of Peity.
How To Reach
Drive comfortably on NH 4A, which begins as the Ribander Causeway, runs
east along the Mandovi River and carries on to the south-east to Ponda.
