Church Of Our Lady Of The Mount, Goa
Parsing Goa’s tryst with legacy and history, this is one of the Goa Churches for the people searching for isolation and peace. Perched at the Monte, you can also enjoy the panoramic view of the Devar and Chorao islands from the church. The church features elegant and simple architecture with three altars, interiors filled with lavish paintings, and the elegant whitewashed walls acting as a canvas for the setting sun. Talking of the sunset, this Goa church experiences one of the best sunsets you’ve ever encountered.
Though the church is a little overlooked due to its tucked-away location, it becomes hem-packed with music lovers during the popular Monte Music Festival in February which it plays host to.
History
It is on the top of the “Monte” that the chapel of Our Lady of the Mount” was built soon after the conquest of Goa to mark the site from where Adil Shah positioned his artillery against the Portuguese forces to retake Goa in 1510. So when Afonso de Albuquerque defeated the Sultan’s forces, he made a vow to construct a church at the very strategic point on the mount. The church was constructed in 1519 and has been rebuilt twice since.
