Reis Magos Church

Reis Magos Church is a historic Catholic church located in the village of Reis Magos, Verem, on the northern bank of the Mandovi River in North Goa. Built in 1555 by Franciscan friars, it was the first church constructed in the Bardez taluka and is dedicated to St. Jerome. The church is renowned for its Portuguese architecture with Hindu influences, the tomb of Viceroy Dom Luís de Ataíde, and its annual Feast of the Three Kings celebration on January 6.

Visitors can expect to see a whitewashed Portuguese-era church situated atop a flight of steps overlooking the Mandovi River. Key features include bas-relief lions at the base showing Vijayanagar architectural influence, Corinthian columns, and a carved gable with royal insignia. Inside, there is a multi-colored wood relief depicting the Three Magi offering gifts to the Infant Jesus, an intricately carved reredos, and tomb slabs of Portuguese viceroys with Latin and Portuguese inscriptions. A shrine to Our Lady of Health stands near the entrance steps.

Constructed in 1555 by Franciscan friars on the ruins of a pagoda, Reis Magos Church was the first church built in Bardez taluka and one of the earliest in Goa. The interior was renovated in 1771 and towers were added in 1776. It served as a residence for Catholic dignitaries and a mission center of the Franciscan order. The church contains the tombs of two Portuguese viceroys, including Dom Luís de Ataíde, who defended Goa against a massive siege in 1570.

The church is one of only three places in Goa where the Epiphany (Feast of the Three Kings) is celebrated with traditional processions and re-enactments on January 6. The Festa dos Reis Magos involves local youths portraying the Three Magi in a procession that starts from the church and moves through the village, preserving centuries-old Goan Catholic traditions. The church's architecture blends Portuguese colonial style with Hindu Vijayanagar elements, reflecting Goa's syncretic cultural heritage.