Dedicated to St. Catherine, the Se Cathedral is also known as the Chapel of St Catherine and St Catherine’s Cathedral. This church is dedicated to St Catherine because Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa on her feast day – 25th November 1510. The Church is a magnificent 16th century monument. The Se Cathedral Church is the largest church in Asia and was commissioned by the Portuguese Viceroy, Redondo in order to display the grandeur and power of his nation. The edifice, when finished, in fact, turned out to be bigger than any of the churches in Portugal.

Of all the churches in Goa, the most ostentious and notable for its excellent architeture is that of St Anne. It was reconstructed by Mons Francisco do Rego with his own funds and with the constributions of some villagers. Unfortunately he could not complete the task thus the onus befell on Fr Antonio Francisco da Cunha for its completion which he did 1965. The main altar is consecrated to St Anne.

9 km east of Panaji, along the Mandovi river, lies the town of Old Goa, once the centre of power for the Portuguese in India and the Far East. Old Goa was virtually abandoned in 1843, when the capital was shifted to Panaji. All that remains now is a handful of cathedrals and churches, a monastery and a convent. But, deserted though this area may be, it isn’t forgotten- and here, among the ruins of an empire, lie some of India’s greatest churches- and among the best known of them is the Basilica of Bom Jesus. The Basilica is a World Heritage monument, and next to it is the Professed House- the `Casa Professa’ of the Jesuits. An impressive edifice with a façade of black granite, the Professed House was built in the late 16th century and is linked to the Basilica by a colonnaded arcade.

The Reis Magos Church or Church of the Three Magi Kings was built by Franciscan Friars in AD 1555 in the town of Reis Magos. They were in charge of missionary work for the area and so took over the church and founded a small seminary there. Reis Magos is a town lying beside the Mandovi River. This town is famous for two of Goa’s very famous buildings; they are the Reis Magos fort and the Reis Magos Church. Of three churches in Goa, the Reis Magos Church is one where the Feast of the Three Wise Men is celebrated every year – and celebrated the most aplomb.

Opposite the Se Cathedral, beyond the road is the large and beautiful church of St. Cajetan built of laterite blocks, which were lime plastered. The façade, having two towers on either side to serve as belfry, has Corinthian columns and pilasters supporting a pediment, and four niches in which are kept the statues of the apostles.

To the west of the Se Cathedral is the former palace of the Archbishop that connects the Se Cathedral to the Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. The structure is built of laterite blocks and is lime-plastered. The church faces west and has a nave with three chapels on either side, a choir, two altars in the transept and a main altar. To the north of the main altar is a belfry and a sacristy. The convent, which forms an annexure to the church, now houses the Archaeological Museum.

The ruins of St. Paul's church stand at the summit of St. Paul's hill near the remains of A Famosa fortress. The site was originally occupied by the "Chapel of the Annunciation" built in 1521 by Duarte Coelho in gratitude to the Virgin Mary for saving his life in the South China sea. In 1548 the Archbishop of Goa in India handed over the church to the Jesuits, who proceeded to renovate it beginning in 1566. The present building was completed in 1590 and the tower on the right side of the sacristy was added in 1593.

The Church of Mary Immaculate Conception is posited in Panjim. The church is said to have been in existence by 1541. However, the early church of Mary Immaculate Conception was re-built in 1619. After Panjim became the capital of Goa, the great bell of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Old Goa (the Bell of the Inquisition) was also moved to this church from Aguada in 1841. This bell, which is now in the church of Mary Immaculate Conception is reputed for being the world’s 2nd largest bell.