Basilica of Bom Jesus

The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Old Goa, India. Built between 1594 and 1605, it is India's first minor basilica and a premier example of Baroque architecture. The church houses the incorrupt relics of St. Francis Xavier in a silver casket within a Florentine mausoleum. It remains an active pilgrimage center and a significant historical monument of Portuguese colonial heritage in Asia.

Visitors can explore a 16th-century Baroque basilica featuring an unplastered laterite facade, marble flooring, and gilded altars. The main attraction is the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, containing the saint's silver casket and mausoleum. The interior includes a modern art gallery with biblical paintings, a sacristy with historical artifacts, and intricate wood carvings. Mass services are held regularly, and visitors may view the relics and architectural details during designated visiting hours.

Construction began in 1594 and the church was consecrated in May 1605 by Archbishop Aleixo de Menezes. It was raised to the status of minor basilica in 1946 by Pope Pius XII. The basilica contains the tomb of St. Francis Xavier, whose body was brought to Goa in 1553. The mausoleum was gifted by Cosimo III, Duke of Tuscany, and assembled in Goa in the late 17th century. It is part of the Churches and Convents of Goa UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The basilica is a major Catholic pilgrimage center housing the patron saint of Goa, St. Francis Xavier. The relics are exposed for public veneration every ten years, drawing millions of devotees. It represents the spread of Christianity in Asia and the Jesuit mission. The site is culturally significant to Goans of all faiths as 'Goencho Saib' (Lord of Goa) and serves as a symbol of the region's Portuguese colonial heritage.