Se Cathedral
Se Cathedral
4.5
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4.5
551 reviews
Excellent
254
Very good
250
Average
43
Poor
4
Terrible
0
Sooraj G
5 contributions
Oct 2021 • Friends
Very good. Average experience, must watch the historical things of the past. South Goa is entirely different from both Goa, selfies aor not allowed inside the musium. U can take photos
Written 22 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandy_JSR
Jamshedpur, India2,060 contributions
Feb 2020
The Se Cathedral, is situated opposite side of Basilica of Bom Jesus. The church is built-up in a spread-out and well-maintained landscape. This is a big church with an attractive architecture, the tower houses a large bell known as the "Golden Bell". The premise also houses Archaeological Museum. Appropriate clothing is recommended.
Written 23 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
0rmason
Brisbane, Australia77 contributions
Feb 2020
This is an impressive church, and a reminder of how important Goa was for Catholic missions across Asia. Some of the renovation work to art and plaster isn't great, but the main alter is nonetheless gorgeous. Remember to wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders, although they offer shawls for R100 if not.
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mi Do
Goa, India176 contributions
Jan 2023
A unique Christian shrine is kept here — a growing cross. The legend says that a shepherd in the XVII century decided to carve a wooden crucifix. And allegedly Jesus himself appeared to him. Grateful Christians decided to place this cross in the chapel of the Cathedral. And a miracle happened — an ordinary wooden cross began to grow. The cathedral is open for excursions, which allows everyone to take a look at the wonderful cross.
Written 29 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Milton R
41 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
This is a ‘ Must See ‘ iconic landmark of GOA. It really highlights the Portuguese Christian influence on my beloved homeland of GOA. Highly recommended. - Milton Rodrigues, President of GOANS INTERNATIONAL.
Written 8 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CeePeeEm
Doha, Qatar265 contributions
Nov 2022
When we visited Goa for the first time, this was one of the must see places suggested by my friends.
This is an excellent architectural marvel built in the 17th century. For those interested in the history of Christianity in India, this is definitely a place to visit.
This is an excellent architectural marvel built in the 17th century. For those interested in the history of Christianity in India, this is definitely a place to visit.
Written 11 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aski_online
Bangalore District, India257 contributions
May 2024 • Family
This work heritage center is well maintained as its under Unesco. Somehow it was partially closed on Friday when we visited. One can walk to this place from the Brasilia opposite. Good place to visit. Probably of greater significance if you are from the same faith.
Written 30 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ghoomboom
New Delhi, India104 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This Cathedral is very near to Basilica of Bom Jesus and in the same premises that houses Archaeological Museum of Goa. Beautiful cathedral and a must visit if you are visiting old Goa. Lots of other old monuments nearby like Viceroys Arch, Santa Monica church, Gate of Adilshah palace and all of it is near Mandovi river. No entrance fee to the cathedral. It takes you back in the Portuguese era Goa.
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bhavesh555
Mumbai, India403 contributions
Oct 2015 • Family
Very nice attraction to visit, Museum is accessible with nominal ticket. Visit hour from 7am to 6:30pm.
Garden are very well maintained.
Garden are very well maintained.
Written 19 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geobar01
Manchester, UK1,494 contributions
Feb 2012 • Couples
The Se Cathedral is entered from the direction of the Church of St. Cajetan so you can organise your visit to come from there or head over to it on leaving the Cathedral. The entrance looks impressive being set between columns in the white plastered face of the building. Above it if you look up you will see an inscription dating the cathedral to instructions given for its construction in 1562 during the reign of King Dom Sebastiano.
As you enter, you will see signs saying that photography is prohibited. In fact, as with most of the other religious buildings in Old Goa this only applies to taking pictures of people inside the building, not to taking photographs of the structure itself or any of the monuments inside. It's size is impressive and though it lacks the dome and well tensed interior of St Cajetan or a feature as important as the tomb of St Francis Xavier across the road at the Basilica of Bom Jesus the Cathedral is well worth a visit., with 9 altars, 6 chapels and a host of once prominent Portuguese families represented in the stones you will be walking across.
On the right as you walk down the centre of the cathedral are four chapels, being dedicated to St. Anthony, St Bernard, the Cross of Miracles (with a very well carved wooden screen with four gold cherubs over it) and ending with the gold decoration of the Chapel of the Holy Ghost. On the left is the Chapel of Our Lady of Virtues and that to St. Sebastian and as you look at them it's worth noting the wall paintings to either side. When we visited the main chapel on this side was closed off by a locked gate and set will back with additional seating inside. This is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and looks more richly decorated than the rest. For the photographers among you this is tempting but somewhat awkward to get a photograph of. Flash is less likely to disturb anyone here but will cast unpleasant shadows. One option though is to ease your camera through the bars, which are spaced widely enough apart in places for a large DSLR and to use them to brace it for an exposure that would be too long to be hand-held. There are two more chapels on this side of the Cathedral before reaching the series of altars at the end of the nave. You can also enter or leave to the left here, while the main altar is an impressively large and richly gilded one dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. The door to the right of this as you stand before it leads through to the sacristy that has an altar apparently based on one in St. Peter's in Rome.
You may find that some of this information is on offer from one of several guides who seem to linger waiting for tourists. These will give you a guided tour for a fee, but unless you have a serious interest in the architecture or religious significance of the monuments and features then it's probably better to come with a simple guide book of your own or simply to wander, admire and look up later anything that you were interested in. In fact during our visit it was interesting to note one couple trying to shake off their guide who was going into too much detail for them.
One point you may be curious about is the rather asymmetrical look of the exterior which has one tower rising above the South side of the main entrance. It looks like there ought to be one extending above the North Side too and in fact there was originally but it collapsed in the seventeenth century. If you leave the Cathedral here it's easiest to head for the Church of St Cajetan. If you leave by the smaller door near the main altar then it's convenient to walk around the side of the building until you reach the Convent and Church of St Francis of Assisi and the Archaeological Museum.
All in all the Cathedral is well worth a visit if you are in Old Goa and coupled with the Convent and Museum are the most obvious structures here, bright white and set back from the Panjim Road. The interior of St Cajetan is probably more impressive and as noted the history and religious significance of the tomb of St Francis Xavier across the road in the Basilica are the most important feature of Old Goa but the Se Cathedral has enough of interest to be worthy of a detour unless you are really short of time.
As you enter, you will see signs saying that photography is prohibited. In fact, as with most of the other religious buildings in Old Goa this only applies to taking pictures of people inside the building, not to taking photographs of the structure itself or any of the monuments inside. It's size is impressive and though it lacks the dome and well tensed interior of St Cajetan or a feature as important as the tomb of St Francis Xavier across the road at the Basilica of Bom Jesus the Cathedral is well worth a visit., with 9 altars, 6 chapels and a host of once prominent Portuguese families represented in the stones you will be walking across.
On the right as you walk down the centre of the cathedral are four chapels, being dedicated to St. Anthony, St Bernard, the Cross of Miracles (with a very well carved wooden screen with four gold cherubs over it) and ending with the gold decoration of the Chapel of the Holy Ghost. On the left is the Chapel of Our Lady of Virtues and that to St. Sebastian and as you look at them it's worth noting the wall paintings to either side. When we visited the main chapel on this side was closed off by a locked gate and set will back with additional seating inside. This is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and looks more richly decorated than the rest. For the photographers among you this is tempting but somewhat awkward to get a photograph of. Flash is less likely to disturb anyone here but will cast unpleasant shadows. One option though is to ease your camera through the bars, which are spaced widely enough apart in places for a large DSLR and to use them to brace it for an exposure that would be too long to be hand-held. There are two more chapels on this side of the Cathedral before reaching the series of altars at the end of the nave. You can also enter or leave to the left here, while the main altar is an impressively large and richly gilded one dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. The door to the right of this as you stand before it leads through to the sacristy that has an altar apparently based on one in St. Peter's in Rome.
You may find that some of this information is on offer from one of several guides who seem to linger waiting for tourists. These will give you a guided tour for a fee, but unless you have a serious interest in the architecture or religious significance of the monuments and features then it's probably better to come with a simple guide book of your own or simply to wander, admire and look up later anything that you were interested in. In fact during our visit it was interesting to note one couple trying to shake off their guide who was going into too much detail for them.
One point you may be curious about is the rather asymmetrical look of the exterior which has one tower rising above the South side of the main entrance. It looks like there ought to be one extending above the North Side too and in fact there was originally but it collapsed in the seventeenth century. If you leave the Cathedral here it's easiest to head for the Church of St Cajetan. If you leave by the smaller door near the main altar then it's convenient to walk around the side of the building until you reach the Convent and Church of St Francis of Assisi and the Archaeological Museum.
All in all the Cathedral is well worth a visit if you are in Old Goa and coupled with the Convent and Museum are the most obvious structures here, bright white and set back from the Panjim Road. The interior of St Cajetan is probably more impressive and as noted the history and religious significance of the tomb of St Francis Xavier across the road in the Basilica are the most important feature of Old Goa but the Se Cathedral has enough of interest to be worthy of a detour unless you are really short of time.
Written 9 April 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
where would you park if driving?
Written 7 September 2015
Parking area is bit far from Se Cathedral but should not be major concern since there is ample space for parking but do carry drinking water with you since there are hardly any refreshment joints in the complex
Written 9 September 2015
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