Goa has a number of excursion sites located close by. From wildlife, lakes, and rivers to Medieval and colonial architecture, Goa has it all.
 

Panaji
Goa Attractions

Panaji or Panajim perhaps does not have great buildings or well-known attractions but what it has is its character and that is more than enough for a willing visitor to have a look around. Panaji is also the travel hub of Goa and this is the first place to be touched up while you are landing in Goa. Dabolim Airport located on the outskirts of Panaji connect Goa with other places in India and also welcomes good number of charter flights directly flying from Europe. The town of Panaji is laid out in typical grid pattern, centered on a church square. It is a charming city on the left bank of the silvery Mandovi River. It has beautiful, red roofed houses with stucco walls built in Latin style, well laid gardens, statues and avenues lined with trees.

The Church Square or Largo de lgreja is the focal point. The Church of the Immaculate Conception, designed in Portuguese Baroque style was modeled on the church at Reis Magos. The image of Lady of Fatima can be found in one of the altars.

The Idalcao or Adilshahi Palace was rebuilt by the Portuguese Viceroy Jeronimo de Azevedo. It is part of the sequence of handsome buildings, which has now become the secretariat. At Cabo, on the western tip lies the Raj Niwas which was built in mud and laterite with beautifully landscaped gardens.

Other Goa attractions in Panaji are library, Braganza Institute, Jama Masjid, Mahalaxmi Temple, St Thome quarter, and Sebastian Chapel.

Old Goa
Goa Attractions

Today, as you saunter into Old Goa, you are transported into another world, somewhere along Iberian culture. Enter as the Portuguese did, through the port. The Viceregal Arch or the ceremonial endurance is the first sight to marvel at. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi stands along with the Se Cathedral in the same compound. Se Cathedral or Saint Catherine is the largest church in Asia and is built in splendid Renaissance architecture. The Cathedral is 260 feet. Long aisle culminates in a beautifully carved gilt altarpiece.

Another evidence is the frescoes on the buttressed walls that combine European and Indian elements. This is all more evident in the Church of our Lady of the Rosary. The general spirit of the architecture of the twin cathedrals however is Romanesque with emerging Gothic characteristics being evident. The tall arches of the cathedrals soaring heavenwards, the high windows and columns and door carved with biblical stories, speak of Europe in that period.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus is another such magnificent cathedral where the mortal remains of St. Francis are kept. It is the best example of Baroque architecture in India. The tomb which houses the remains of St. Francis came from Italy, donated by the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The silver casket inside the airtight coffin was made by a 17th century Florentine jeweler. On the south door hangs a picture they say is that of the saint.