St. Francis Church, European church in Fort Kochi, India
St. Francis Church is a stone structure in Fort Kochi designed with a gabled roof framed in timber and topped by stepped pinnacles. Inside, wooden furnishings including a pulpit and confessional define the worship space.
Portuguese Franciscan friars built the original wooden church in 1503, creating one of the first European places of worship in India. The building was later reconstructed and modified during Dutch and British rule.
The church shows how different colonial powers left their mark on the building and its interior design. You can observe Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences in the decorations and structural details.
You can reach the church by walking through the narrow lanes of Fort Kochi and taking time to explore the surrounding area. The building is easy to locate and keeps regular visiting hours throughout the week.
Explorer Vasco da Gama was originally buried in the church, though his remains were moved to Lisbon years later. This connection links the place to one of the great voyages of European exploration.
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