Location:
Banks of Mandovi River, Reis Magos village. Main Attraction: Reis Magos fort, Feast of the Three Wise Men.
How to Reach: Local transport available in Goa.
The little rural community of Reis Magos is located on banks of the Mandovi River and is known for two famed landmarks of Goa- the Reis Magos Church and the Reis Magos Fort. It is also one of the three places in Goa, where the unique Feast of the Three Wise Men is held. Reis Magos Church is about six miles from the beach and it is considered one of the oldest churches of Goa. Reis Magos was dedicated to the Three Wise Men of the Christmas story namely Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.
The Church, whose brightly painted portico is visible from across the river in Panaji, was built in 1555. Franciscan friars, who were in charge of missionary work for the area, took over the church and founded a small seminary here. The Church interiors are quite bright and impressive, with the highlight being the multihued wooden ceiling showing the Three Wise Men (Reis Magos) bearing gifts to the Baby Jesus, which is the focus of the elaborately carved and painted reredos behind the high altar.
Every year on the 6th of January, Reis Magos comes alive with the vibrant Fiesta de los Tres Reyes Magos. Local youth of the village enact the part of the Three Kings of Magi. They rejoice the journey of the three kings who went to worship the holy Infant Child, with a procession that starts from the Church and goes around the village.
