Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To Old Goa, a taxi or autorickshaw costs around ?300. Lots of taxis hang around the
Municipal Gardens, while you'll find autorickshaws and pilots in front of the post office,
on 18th June Rd, and just south of the church.
Scooters and motorbikes can easily be hired from around the post office from around
?200/300 per day.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Old Goa
From the 16th to the 18th centuries, when Old Goa's population exceeded that of Lisbon
or London, this former capital of Goa was considered the 'Rome of the East'. You can still
sense that grandeur as you wander the grounds, with its towering churches and cathedral
and majestic convents. Its rise under the Portuguese, from 1510, was meteoric, but cholera
and malaria outbreaks forced the abandonment of the city in the 1600s. In 1843 the capital
was officially shifted to Panaji.
Some of the most imposing churches, the cathedral and a convent or two are still in use
and are remarkably well-preserved, while other historical buildings have become mu-
seums or ruined sites. It's a fascinating day trip, but it can get crowded: consider visiting
on a weekday morning, when you can take in Mass (in Konkani) at Sé Cathedral or the
Basilica of Bom Jesus (remember to cover your shoulders and legs in the churches and
cathedral), and definitely stop by if you're around in the 10 days leading up to the
Feast of
St Francis Xavier
on 3 December. Once every decade (the next one is 2014), the saint's body
is carried through Old Goa's streets.
