Church of St. Cajetan

The Church of St. Cajetan is a religious monument in Old Goa featuring a central dome, twin bell towers, and a white facade of laterite blocks covered in lime plaster. The structure incorporates both European and local building elements, creating a distinctive visual presence in this heritage area.

Italian Theatine priests built this structure between 1656 and 1661 following authorization from the Portuguese crown to expand their religious presence in the colony. This construction period reflects the growth of religious orders in Portuguese-controlled Goa during its peak influence.

The building blends European and Indian architectural styles, with an ancient archway displaying Hindu carvings that came from the former Palace of Adil Shah.

The grounds are accessible daily with the interior open for visitors to explore as well as to observe religious services held here. The quiet location in Old Goa is easily reached and best visited with appropriate clothing for religious sites.

Beneath the central cupola lies a well designed by Father Francisco Manco with an ingenious system to manage water seepage through the structure. This 17th-century engineering feature reveals the skill of those who solved practical challenges at this humid location.