Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary stands on the Holy Hill in Old Goa and is among the oldest surviving churches in the city. It was built in the 1540s, and tradition holds that Afonso de Albuquerque watched the battle for Goa in 1510 from this hill and vowed to build a chapel here. The church is in the Manueline style, with a fortress-like appearance, rounded corner towers and a simple, sturdy facade. Inside, it holds the tomb of Dona Catarina, wife of the Portuguese governor Garcia de Sá, decorated with carvings that show Gujarati and Islamic influences. Its hilltop position gives views over the Mandovi River and the surrounding countryside. The church is quieter than the main Old Goa churches, which makes it peaceful to visit. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Churches and Convents of Goa. It is worth the trip for its early colonial architecture and its historic setting.