The Archaeological Museum and St Cajetan
The Archaeological Museum occupies the former convent of St Francis of Assisi beside the church. Its galleries hold a long run of portraits of the Portuguese viceroys and governors, sometimes shown in rotation, along with a bronze statue of Afonso de Albuquerque, who captured Goa in 1510. Downstairs are pieces older than the Portuguese: hero stones, sati stones and sculptures from the Kadamba and later periods.
From the museum we walk or drive five minutes to the Church of St Cajetan, built by Italian Theatine priests in the mid-17th century and loosely modelled on St Peter's in Rome. Its dome is rare in Goa, and the interior holds a carved gilt altar and a well beneath the main altar, traditionally said to be on the site of an earlier temple.
Nearby, the Viceroy's Arch marked the ceremonial entrance to the city from the river, where each new viceroy landed. Standing under it, with the Mandovi in front, helps make sense of a city that has otherwise disappeared.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is the Old Goa Archaeological Museum open every day?
It has been closed on Fridays and open on other days from morning to late afternoon, with a small entry fee. Photography inside has not been allowed. Opening days and fees can change, so check current status before you travel.
What is in the Old Goa Archaeological Museum?
Portraits of the Portuguese viceroys and governors, a bronze statue of Afonso de Albuquerque, coins, weapons, and older Hindu and Jain sculpture, including hero stones and sati stones from around Goa. It is small and can be seen properly in an hour.
What is the Viceroy's Arch?
It is a ceremonial gateway near the Mandovi, through which new viceroys entered the city after landing from the river. It was built in the late 16th century and later rebuilt. It stands near the Church of St Cajetan and the road to the Divar ferry.
Also in Old Goa
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