Walls of whispering fables
The Church of Our Lady of Rosary is modest. The architecture is inspired by the Manueline style blended in with Gothic influences. Like most churches of Goa, this too is made from laterite and plastered with lime mortar.
The outside flaunts a Manueline architecture technique called rope twist device. Simply put, the designs look like twisted ropes. The ornate embellishments seem artistic as they embrace the stout columns, frame the stained windows, or highlight other features of the church.
You will find that the structure is divided into 3 levels which makes it look imposing. The buttresses on the front facade and the high windows accentuate the regalness of this monument. On either side of the building, there are two towers. One has a winding staircase that goes to the ‘higher choir’ or the upper floor while the lower area is used as a baptismal chapel. The upper floor is supported by elegant columns which are adorned with bells.
The Church of Our Lady of Rosary has two chapels and three altars. If you desire to pay your visit and sit peacefully in the presence of the divine, you can go to the main altar which is for Our Lady of the Rosary. You will be fascinated to find that the Hindu religion inspires a lot of the carvings and the influences. It has designs of mangoes, cashews, and flowers. The baptismal font in this church has been carved out of a single granite slab.
The design of this church is not path-breaking or unique. It follows the traditional rules of architecture, and that is what gives it an obvious, yet brilliant aura. It follows the same shape which ends with a square area. The main room is called a nave and it also has two chapels. In 1897 the roof of the nave collapsed, then replaced with tiles. The place where the priests stand is decorated with beautiful, awe-inspiring inscriptions. The ceilings too have traditional carvings that will make you gaze at it with wonder.
Till death did them apart
As you weave your way to the right, you will find a statue that was built to remember Dona Catarina. She was the wife of Viceroy Garcia De Sa, a Portuguese nobleman and a soldier who ruled India as a governor from June 1548 to 13 of June 1549.
The union of Dona and the Viceroy was officiated by St. Francis Xavier. If stories are to be believed, it is said that the saint married the two while Catarina lay dying. Later her husband had “Here lies Dona Caterina, wife of Garcia de Sa, who requests the readers of these lines to beg God’s mercy on her soul” inscribed on her cenotaph.
Where God & Nature sit together
In Goa, the beauty of the church is attributed to the architecture. But few realize that the setting of the monuments also tugs a chord in the tourist’s heart. Similarly, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary which is one of the oldest churches of Goa sits on Monte Santo and faces the Mandovi River and the Divar Island. The view is so breathtaking that people are known to spend more time just gazing into the horizon than within the confines of the church.
Beyond the Church
If you do visit this church, try not to miss the Basilica of Bom Jesus. It is one of the most popular churches of Goa and it invites tourists and devotees from all around the world to see the tomb of St. Francis Xavier. You can even ride or drive to the Dona Paula viewpoint, Sinquerim Beach, or Baga Beach if you want to feel the wind on your face and the sand on your feet. Needless to say, you have to dig into the mouth-watering delicacies to experience the true spirit of Goa.
As you bid farewell, your heart will carry with it the echoes of hymns and the warmth of community, knowing that in this sacred space, amidst the tranquil embrace of faith, you have found solace and sanctuary.