The
churches are an illustrious and a magnificent part of the legacy of Goa.
Church building was one of the main occupations of the early Portuguese and
in fact one of Vasco da Gama's main motive for finding the sea route to
India was to "search for spices and Christians ". One of the main
tourist attractions, the churches of Goa are still unfazed by time and still
carry an element of history with them. Visit the famous churches of Goa to
feel the magic yourself. The Portuguese forced upon Christianity with religious fervor during the period of the "Inquisition" with widespread demolition of temples. This continued till 1812, which saw the official end of the "Inquisition" in Goa. Most of Goa's churches were built on the plot of the previous temples. The detained lands of the temples were handed over to the Church. In fact, the first Hindu temple constructed by the Portuguese in 300 years, was at Panaji.
For many generations, a major segment of the population of Goa has been Christians. Thus, the Church is an important factor in Goa's cultural, social, and religious life. The church has also helped the people of Goa in many ways. For instance, the involvement of the Church to spread education in Goa is noteworthy. Today, the churches are all part of the Archdiocese of Goa and function accordingly with its assistance. Many of the Church sites in Goa have been declared as 'protected'.
