Rising in austere white above the leafy lanes of Old Goa, the Se Cathedral (Se Catedral de Santa Catarina) is the largest church in Asia and one of the grandest monuments of Portugal's former eastern empire. Commissioned in 1562 under King Dom Sebastiao and completed around 1619, it was dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, on whose feast day Afonso de Albuquerque captured Goa in 1510. The cathedral's restrained Tuscan exterior gives way to a soaring Corinthian-Mannerist interior, a vast barrel-vaulted nave flanked by chapels and crowned by a magnificent gilded main altar. Today the church forms part of the Churches and Convents of Goa, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, and it remains an active place of worship under the Archdiocese of Goa. Visitors come for the famous Golden Bell, whose deep toll once rang out across the old capital, and for the cool, candle-lit calm of an interior layered with four centuries of devotion. Set within easy walking distance of the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Se Cathedral anchors a remarkable cluster of colonial-era churches that together tell the story of Goa's Catholic heritage.
Top Attractions
The Golden Bell & Bell Tower
The cathedral originally had two towers, but one collapsed in 1776 and was never rebuilt, leaving a single surviving tower. It houses the famous Golden Bell, named for its rich tone rather than gold content and regarded as one of the largest and most melodious bells in Goa. Local tradition links its toll to the proclamations and processions of the Goa Inquisition era.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Free (included with church entry)
- Hours: Mon-Sat approx. 9:00 AM-6:00 PM; Sun limited (Mass)
- Best Time: Morning, when the tower catches soft light
- Tip: View the tower from the open courtyard outside for the best photograph of the asymmetric facade.
The Main Altar (Reredos)
The towering gilded main altar is the visual climax of the interior, dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Richly carved and covered in gold leaf in the Baroque manner, its panels depict scenes from the saint's life and martyrdom. Flanking it, ornate side retables and screens give the otherwise plain whitewashed interior a sudden burst of dazzling decoration.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Free
- Hours: Daily, daylight hours (avoid Mass times)
- Best Time: Midday when interior light is brightest
- Tip: Photography is allowed, but tripods and flash near the altar are discouraged; respect any service in progress.
Chapel of the Cross of Miracles
Within the cathedral stands a chapel housing a cross said to have miraculously grown in size after a vision of Christ appeared on it. The cross is enclosed behind a screen, and pilgrims still visit to pray. It is one of several side chapels lining the nave, each dedicated to different saints and devotions, adding to the cathedral's role as a living place of pilgrimage.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Free
- Hours: During church opening hours
- Best Time: Weekday mornings, quieter for reflection
- Tip: Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, as it is an active chapel.
The Baptismal Font & Frescoes
The cathedral preserves an old baptismal font, traditionally associated with the missionary work of St Francis Xavier, who is believed to have used it to baptise converts. Along the walls, faded murals and paintings depicting biblical and saintly scenes survive from earlier centuries, offering a glimpse of the church's original painted decoration beneath its now-whitewashed surfaces.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Free
- Hours: Church opening hours
- Best Time: Anytime during the day
- Tip: Look up and along the side walls; the older painted panels are easy to miss in the dim light.
Basilica of Bom Jesus (nearby)
A two-minute walk away across the road, this UNESCO-listed basilica is Old Goa's most visited church and the resting place of St Francis Xavier, whose relics lie in a silver casket. Its laterite Baroque facade and ornate interior pair perfectly with a Se Cathedral visit, making the two the essential heart of any Old Goa heritage tour.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Free
- Hours: Mon-Sat approx. 9:00 AM-6:30 PM; Sun from ~10:30 AM
- Best Time: Early morning to beat tour-bus crowds
- Tip: The relics of St Francis Xavier are publicly exposed only during the Exposition held roughly once a decade.
Church of St Francis of Assisi & Archaeological Museum
Adjacent to the cathedral, this 16th-century church boasts richly gilded woodwork, frescoes and intricate floor tombstones. Attached to it, the ASI Archaeological Museum displays portraits of Portuguese viceroys, sculptures and relics excavated from Old Goa, providing valuable historical context for the surrounding monuments.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Church free; Museum ~INR 25 (Indians), ~INR 300 (foreigners)
- Hours: Museum Sat-Thu approx. 9:00 AM-5:00 PM (closed Fri)
- Best Time: After visiting the cathedral, same trip
- Tip: Buy the museum ticket to see the impressive viceroy portrait gallery upstairs.
Food & Local Flavours
Old Goa has few eateries, so most visitors eat at nearby Panjim or roadside stalls serving classic Goan-Catholic fare.
Goan Fish Curry Rice
The everyday soul food of Goa: fresh fish such as mackerel or kingfish simmered in a tangy coconut, tamarind and red-chilli gravy, served over par-boiled red rice. Lightly spiced and deeply flavourful, it is the dish to order at any local thali joint near Old Goa or Panjim.
Price: INR 150-300
Try: Local thali restaurants in Panjim and along the Old Goa road
Pork Vindaloo
A fiery Goan-Portuguese classic of pork marinated in vinegar, garlic, red chillies and warm spices, slow-cooked until tender and pungent. The name comes from the Portuguese 'vinha d'alhos' (wine and garlic). Best enjoyed with pao (Goan bread) or steamed rice to balance the heat.
Price: INR 200-400
Try: Goan-Catholic restaurants and taverns near Panjim
Bebinca
Goa's signature layered dessert, a rich pudding made from coconut milk, egg yolks, flour, sugar and ghee, baked one thin layer at a time to create up to sixteen golden layers. Dense, fragrant and mildly sweet, it is the traditional festive treat sold in bakeries across the region.
Price: INR 60-150 per slice
Try: Bakeries and sweet shops in Panjim and Old Goa
Ros Omelette & Pao
A beloved Goan street snack: a fluffy omelette doused in spicy chicken or mutton 'ros' (curry gravy) and served with soft pao bread to mop it up. Cheap, filling and intensely flavourful, it is a favourite quick bite from roadside carts and small stalls.
Price: INR 60-120
Try: Roadside stalls near Old Goa and Panjim markets
Practical Information
Getting Around
- Walking: Free — the main Old Goa churches all cluster within a 5-10 minute walk of each other.
- Taxi/cab: INR 400-700 from Panjim (~10 km) — easiest option, negotiate or use app cabs.
- Local bus: INR 15-30 — frequent buses run from Panjim's Kadamba bus stand to Old Goa.
- Scooter rental: INR 300-500 per day — flexible for exploring Old Goa and beyond.
Budget Guide (Per Day)
- Budget: INR 600-1200 (~$7-14): Local bus transport, street food (ros omelette, fish thali), all churches free to enter.
- Mid-range: INR 2000-3500 (~$24-42): App-cab from Panjim, sit-down Goan lunch, museum ticket and a guide.
- Luxury: INR 6000+ (~$72+): Private car with driver, premium Goan dining, heritage-walk guide and a stay in central Panjim.
Best Time to Visit
- November to February: Cool, dry weather ideal for walking the Old Goa church circuit.
- Early morning (9-11 AM): Soft light and fewer tour buses for a peaceful visit.
- Feast of St Catherine (25 November): Special services and festive atmosphere at the cathedral.
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Open Trip PlannerImage Credits
Se Cathedral — iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons