Church of Mary Immaculate
Conception
The
church was one of the first to be built in Goa, certainly being there by 1541.
The early church was completely re-built from its foundations in 1619 and this
was even considered, taking accountof the still negligible population of the
area and the size of the new church, is a striking commentary on the religious
climateof the time and the wealth available to the churches.
The interior of the church is relatively simple by the standards of the time
although the backdrop to the main altar, dedicated to Mary Immaculate, is impressive
enough.
However, it is the two flanking altars that catch the eye, that on the left
dedicated to Jesus Crucified and that on the right to Our Lady of the Rosary.
Each is a riot of heavily gilded, deeply carved ornamentation, yet compact and
controlled, a fine example of the period. At the side of each is a marble statue,
one of St Peter and one of St Paul.
In the south transept to the right of the main altar is a Chapel of St. Francis
Xavier, whose glass-encased statue occupies the centre of the reredos.
