Location
Old Goa, North Goa
St.
Augustine Tower is a 46 m tower that served as a belfry and formed part
of the magnificent Nossa Senhora da Graca Church. It is the only one
of four towers that still exist today. It was built in 1602 by the
Augustine friars who first came to Goa in 1587. Initially built of
laterite the Church had four storeys. It was colossal in size and had
richly adorned chapels and altars. It also had a convent attached to
it. When it was completed in the 16th century, the grand Nossa Senhora
da Graca Church was recognized as one of the three great Augustinian
churches, the other two being the Basilica of the Escorial in Spain and
St. Vincent de Fora in Lisbon.
The nave of the church now lies
open to the sky. Covering this nave was a large barrel vault whose
enormous weight has unfortunately hastened the ruin and collapse of the
church.
This church was abandoned in 1835 when the repressive
policies of Portuguese government resulted in the eviction of many
religious orders from Goa. It fell into neglect and the body of the
church was soon destroyed. Only the facade remained intact. The tower's
huge bell was moved in 1871 to the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate
Conception in Panjim, where it still remains and can be seen and heard
by all those around. In 1931, the facade and half the tower fell down,
followed by more sections in 1938 leaving only half the tower that is
seen today.
This remnant, the renowned St. Augustine's tower
is all that remains of what was once one of the largest buildings in
Goa -- The Augustinian Monastery.
Getting there
Closest City: Panjim, 10 kms
Closest Airport: Dabolim 30 kms
Closest Station: Karmali, 2 kms
Directions
Mapusa: Take a shuttle to Panjim. From Panjim, buses, taxis and autos go directly to the church
Margao: Take a shuttle to Panjim. From Panjim, buses, taxis and autos go directly to the church
Panjim: Buses, taxis and autos go directly to the church
Vasco: Take a shuttle to Panjim. From Panjim, buses, taxis and autos go directly to the church.
