Museum of Christian Art

Overview

The Museum of Christian Art in Old Goa is one of the few museums in Asia dedicated to Christian art. Housed in the Santa Monica Convent, it displays Indo-Portuguese religious art including silverware, textiles, carved ivory, and wooden processional objects spanning four centuries.

Highlights

• Ivory Crucifixes: Exquisitely carved Indo-Portuguese ivory figures from the 16th–18th centuries.
• Liturgical Vestments: Richly embroidered priestly vestments with gold-thread work unique to Goa.
• Painted Panels: Narrative panel paintings depicting the life of Christ.

History

Founded in 1994 with support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Portugal), it was originally in the Rachol Seminary before moving to Old Goa.

Visitor Tips

• Entry Fee: 25 INR.
• Combine: A ten-minute walk from the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.