Basilica of Bom Jesus and Professed House of the Jesuits

The unmistakable red laterite stone building, characterized by the usual absence of lime-plastered exteriors, Basilica of Bom Jesus is the highlight of Old Goa. What makes Basilica of Bom Jesus special (and another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Old Goa) is the fact that it houses the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier in a small chapel and is, thus, a highly revered pilgrim site. Opposite this narrow chapel, the church also has his coffin on display. An annual feast is held on 3rd December.
The lime-plastered building next to Basilica of Bom Jesus is called the Professed House of the Jesuits, who are credited with the construction of this monument. The Professed House of the Jesuits hosts a Sound & Light Gallery that runs a show titled “Kallzachi Zatra” or “A Pilgrimage of the Heart”, depicting the journeys of St. Francis Xavier and the Indian saint St. Joseph Vaz, who worked extensively in Sri Lanka. It also has an art gallery that exhibits how the carpenters carved the intricate statues installed in the Basilica. Use of still or video cameras is prohibited in the gallery.