India GOChurch of St. Cajetan, Old Goa
The Church of St. Cajetan in Old Goa is the church Italian Theatine priests built between 1655 and 1661 on the model of St. Peter's in Rome. It is open seven days a week from 9 am to 7 pm, according to Goa Tourism, and entry is free. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Churches and Convents of Goa, and the calmest of its churches.
Italian Theatine friars finished this church in 1661 and modelled it on St. Peter's in Rome: a hemispherical dome, a Corinthian facade, Baroque altars heavy with gilding, all of it scaled down to a tropical riverbank. It stands slightly apart from the main Old Goa cluster, near the Viceroy's Arch, so it stays calm while the Basilica fills. Under the dome there is a covered well thought to predate the church, which hints that the site was in use long before the friars arrived. Free to enter; part of the UNESCO ensemble.
A scaled-down St. Peter's in the tropics, and the calmest church in Old Goa
Opening hours
Official hours: goa-tourism.com · checked 28 September 2026
St. Cajetan Church timings and entry
Goa Tourism (GTDC) gives the hours as 9 am to 7 pm, seven days a week, the same as the card above. There is no ticket. The official page does not publish mass times, so if you want to attend a service, ask at the church.
The church stands a little apart from the main Old Goa cluster, northeast of the Sé Cathedral and near the Viceroy's Arch. While the Basilica of Bom Jesus fills with tour groups, St. Cajetan usually stays quiet.
History: Italian priests in Portuguese Goa
Three Italian priests of the Theatine order, founded by St. Cajetan in Italy in the 16th century, arrived in India in 1639. The Portuguese viceroy banished them when they began a hospital; their leader, Pedro Avitabili, won approval from King John IV of Portugal. The king allowed the hospital in 1650; received permission for the church in 1655 and completed it in 1661. The architects were the Italians Carlo Ferrarini and Francesco Maria Milazzo.
The church is also known as the Church of Divine Providence, and its main altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Divine Providence.
What to see inside
Everything here is St. Peter's scaled down to a tropical riverbank.
The dome
A hemispherical dome on four central pillars, modelled on St. Peter's. Around the base of the cupola runs a Latin inscription from the Gospel of Matthew (6:33).
The facade
Corinthian in style, flanked by two square belfry towers, with stone statues of Saints Peter, Paul, John and Matthew in the niches.
The altars
A Greek-cross interior with seven gilded Baroque altars: the main altar of Our Lady of Divine Providence and three on each side.
The well under the dome
Goa Tourism describes a well about 22 m deep beneath the dome; it is covered. It was either part of an earlier building on the site or dug by the architect to drain water seeping from the subsoil.
The crypt
Theatine friars were buried in a crypt beneath the church.
How to reach and what to combine
St. Cajetan is in Old Goa (Velha Goa), the former Portuguese capital upriver from Panjim. The other monuments of the UNESCO ensemble, the Sé Cathedral, the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, are within walking distance, as is the Viceroy's Arch on the riverfront.
✅ Etiquette
Goa Tourism does not publish a dress code for St. Cajetan. It is a consecrated, working Catholic church, so the usual courtesy applies.
- Cover shoulders and knees — Beachwear is out of place inside.
- Quiet during prayer — If people are praying or a mass is on, keep to the back.
❓ FAQ
What are St. Cajetan Church timings?
9 am to 7 pm, every day, according to Goa Tourism.
Is there an entry fee?
No, entry is free.
What is the history of St. Cajetan Church?
Italian Theatine priests, who arrived in India in 1639, built it between 1655 and 1661, modelling it on St. Peter's in Rome.
What is Saint Cajetan known for?
He founded the Theatine order in Italy in the 16th century; the priests of that order built this church.
Where is St. Cajetan Church located?
In Old Goa, northeast of the Sé Cathedral and near the Viceroy's Arch. It is a different church from St. Cajetan's in Assagao, North Goa.
Is St. Cajetan a UNESCO site?
Yes. It is one of the monuments of the Churches and Convents of Goa World Heritage site.