Basilica of Bom Jesus

There's another Goa beyond the beaches — the grand Catholic heritage of Old Goa, once the glittering capital of Portuguese India. Its churches are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the greatest of them is the Basilica of Bom Jesus, a masterpiece of baroque architecture completed in 1605.

Inside its weathered laterite façade lies the ornate, gilded tomb of St Francis Xavier, whose remarkably preserved remains draw pilgrims from around the world. It's a striking reminder of Goa's unique blend of Indian and European history.

• ›The gilded tomb and relics of St Francis Xavier.
• ›The ornate baroque interior and altars.
• ›The nearby Se Cathedral, one of Asia's largest churches.

Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered). Old Goa's churches cluster together — see several in one visit. A calm, cultural contrast to the coast.