Every city has stories to tell. Old Goa is no exception – and its stories date back to the 15th century, so there is plenty of insight and information here if you care to explore some more.

The first thing you will notice is the plethora of churches here. They are deemed so important and notable that they led to the city being granted the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1986. The city used to be deemed the capital while the Portuguese were here, but after it was hit by the plague it was finally given up in the mid 1800s.

You can see the Church of St Francis of Assisi, the Church of Our Lady of the Mount and the Church of St Peter as well, not to mention many others. The Viceroy Arch is also well worth seeing, as it is more than four hundred years old. Just imagine the countless people who have passed beneath it since it was built. This memorial to Vasco da Gama, a 15th century Portuguese explorer, harks from a time when Old Goa was far different to how it is today.

Strangely enough though, the name ‘Old Goa’ only dates back to the mid 20th century. It is appropriate enough though, since the area is largely a testament to times that are long since gone. It is a popular place for all the tourists to the area to visit though, so it can get busy during certain times of the year.

Some of the churches are allegedly haunted, but that probably encourages more visitors rather than sending them scurrying in the opposite direction! There doesn’t seem to be a lot of information about them from any source, so you may need to gather up your courage to see whether the rumours are true.

In any event, Old Goa makes an eerie and fascinating way to look back into the past. No visit to Goa should be completed without seeing the many churches and other religious buildings and ruins that make up this part of India. See it for yourself and you’ll be captivated.