The Chapel of St. Catherine ( pt, Capela de Santa Catarina) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in

Old Goa Old Goa ( Konkani: ; pt, Velha Goa, translation='Old Goa') is a historical site and city situated on the southern banks of the River Mandovi, within the Tiswadi ''taluka'' (''Ilhas'') of North Goa district, in the Indian state of Goa. The ci ...

in the same compound as Se Cathedral and the

Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi The Church of St. Francis of Assisi was built in 1661 by the Portuguese in the Portuguese Viceroyalty of India. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi, together with a convent, was established by eight Portuguese Franciscan friars who landed in Go ...

. It was built in 1510 in the

Baroque architectural Baroque architecture is a highly decorative and theatrical style which appeared in Italy in the early 17th century and gradually spread across Europe. It was originally introduced by the Catholic Church, particularly by the Jesuits, as a means t ...

style, and has a brown and white facade. It faces the Mandovi River and is part of the World Heritage Site,

Churches and convents of Goa Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * C ...

. The chapel is not functional.

History

It was erected by

Afonso de Albuquerque Afonso de Albuquerque, 1st Duke of Goa (; – 16 December 1515) was a Portuguese general, admiral, and statesman. He served as viceroy of Portuguese India from 1509 to 1515, during which he expanded Portuguese influence across the Indian Ocean ...

, Portuguese conqueror, in 1510 to commemorate his victorious entry to the city of Goa on St Catherine's Day.

Pope Paul III Pope Paul III ( la, Paulus III; it, Paolo III; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549), born Alessandro Farnese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death in November 1549. He came to ...

granted it status of cathedral in 1534 and it was rebuilt. The chapel was expanded in 1550 at the order of the governor

Jorge Cabral Jorge Cabral (born 1500) was a Portuguese nobleman, soldier (military officer) and explorer who was the 15th ruler of Portuguese India as governor from 13 June 1549 to November 1550.Translated from the articles "Jorge Cabral" of the Portuguese and ...

, and a new altarpiece was installed as well.

References

{{commons, Capela de Santa Catarina (Goa)
Colonial Goa Monuments and memorials in Goa World Heritage Sites in India Portuguese colonial architecture in India Tourist attractions in Goa Roman Catholic churches completed in 1510 Roman Catholic churches in Goa 1510 establishments in India 1510s establishments in Portuguese India Baroque architecture in India 1510 establishments in the Portuguese Empire 16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in India Roman Catholic churches in Old Goa