Tower of the Church of St. Augustine Goa

The Tower of the Church of St. Augustine is recognized as a highly praised landmark in Goa. This is a 46 m high tower that used to serve as a belfry and thereby it formed a major part of the facade of this religious site.

History:
The Tower of the Church of St. Augustine is 400 years old. The construction began in 1597 and it continued till 1602. Unfortunately, the name of the designer remains unknown although it is assumed that the brilliant architect was from Italy. Continued neglect turned the church into a ruined structure around 1842. Though the church was almost destroyed, the facade remained intact. In 1871, the huge bell of the Tower of the Church of St. Augustine was transferred to the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Panjim. Half of the tower collapsed in 1931 and today, travelers from all over the world get to see only a part of the once great tower.

Architecture:
The Tower of the Church of St. Augustine is surely one of the most spectacular monuments in Goa. Unfortunately, most of the magnificent churches in Old Goa do not exist anymore and they are now nothing more than just ruined towers or altars. Only ten churches in the old city of Velha Goa (old Goa) exist. The Tower of the Church of St. Augustine is one of the four surviving towers of St. Augustine Church. It was built out of laterite and the height of the tower is truly moving. You can still explore the four remaining storeys of the tower. The tower forms a significant part of the church. The church features four altars, a convent with numerous cells and eight ornamented chapels.

Location and Access:
You will find the Tower of the Church of St. Augustine on the top of a holy hill in Old Goa, Panaji. You can avail the local transport and the state transports, including buses, taxis, ferry services and the car rental services. In short, the Tower of the Church of St. Augustine is quite accessible from any corner of Goa.