St. Francis Church

The oldest European church in India, built in wood in 1503 by the Portuguese, rebuilt in stone in 1516, and later further updated by the Dutch. Vasco da Gama was buried here (his remains were later moved to Lisbon, but the memorial plaque remained).

The architecture is modest: white walls, a wooden roof, carved benches from the 16th century, and an ancient organ. Inside, silence and the smell of time; on the walls, memorial plaques with Dutch and British names.

The church is just a couple of minutes from the coast and the fishing nets, easy to stop by; entrance is free.