Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Old Goa, India. It is one of the oldest churches in the city and was built between 1510 and 1519.[1] The construction of the church was ordered by Afonso de Albuquerque, the governor of Portuguese India, immediately after the Portuguese conquest of Goa in 1510.[2] The chapel was completed in 1519.

Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount
Capela da Nossa Senhora do Monte
Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount is located in Goa
Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount
Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount
Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount is located in India
Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount
Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount
15°30′16″N 73°55′25″E / 15.5045°N 73.9235°E / 15.5045; 73.9235
LocationOld Goa, State of Goa
CountryIndia
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
Founder(s)Afonso de Albuquerque
Architecture
Architectural typeMannerist, Baroque
Years built1510-1519

The chapel is located on a hill overlooking the Mandovi river, and is not easily accessible. It was built using laterite stone and the architectural style is Baroque with Mannerist influences.[3] Every year in November, the chapel courtyard plays host to the popular Monte Music Festival.[4][5]

Until 2001, the chapel was in ruins. A restoration project was then planned and funded by the Fundação Oriente, an organisation that maintains cultural links of Goa and Damaon with Portugal, in association with the state government.[6]

The church before restoration.

References

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  1. ^ "Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount". The Times of India.
  2. ^ "HPIP". hpip.org.
  3. ^ "Restoration of Capela da Nossa Senhora do Monte - Old Goa" (PDF). www.hms.civil.uminho.pt. 2001. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  4. ^ Guides, Bluworlds; Das, Joydip. "Goa Pocket Travel Guide". Bluworlds Guides – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Oriente, Fundação (22 January 2020). "MONTE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2020".
  6. ^ Couto, Maria (5 July 2005). Goa: A Daughter's Story. Penguin Books India. ISBN 9780143033431 – via Google Books.
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