Old Goa Christian Art And Heritage Walking Tour

The Christian Art Trail at Old Goa with Priyanka Phadte

Priyanka weaved stories in and around the local history, architecture, and cultural migrations. She knows just the right timing and place for every story, reference, and to draw connections. Not a dull moment with these stories and so much beauty in the churches she took me to!

An enriching experience - learned so much!

I’ve been to old Goa three times and I’m very keen on Christian art but Adolfina showed us many, many things we had not seen before or even realised were there - we were blown away by this tour! Adolfina is a very interesting and knowledgeable guide able to tell us many stories and point out so many unusual things we simply could not have got out of any guidebook. I feel so privileged to have done this tour meeting nuns and seeing inside so many beautiful structures. Thank you so much Adolfina! I hope we can meet again one day. I feel so inspired to find out more about the history of Christian’s in Goa.

A day at MOCA

The trail was amazingg! My second time around on this trail and loved it. Adolfina was amazing and very kind. Got to learn a lot and see a lot. Couldn’t have asked for a better ambassador on this trail. Even on a repeat trail there’s always so much to learn and experience. Ended with a great goan snack and chai! Def recommend to everyone.

Beautiful

The experience was truly of a kind ,Priyanka as our guide .Bob was being a delight . Priyanka is a real story teller ,her expressive prowess is mind blowing.Her thouroughness and attentuon to detail is worth a mention here .Loved the whole trail .

Fabulous

Our Story teller Pinyaka was fabulous. She had so much knowledge and passion Starting and meeting at a nice cafe and having a local breakfast was a fitting start to a great 4 hrs

A Day out with Soul Travelling

Our trail was amazing and historic for us as we went on a nostalgic educational trip about the deep roots of Goan heritage. Visiting Goan houses inspired and made by the Portuguese and churches with old history was the most fun I had on this day. Our trip for the day was over but we wanted to spend so much more time with the guides Adolfina and Pankaj. We shared stories, laughed and enjoyed on a terrific day full of history in offbeat Goa with Soul Travelling ❤️ The architecture was mind blowing and the churches and houses we visited was extremely beautiful. We ended our trip with an amazing meal of Goan delicacies. This was a fun new change for us and we will surely do this again and return for more Soul Travelling.

Amazing day, Good vibes and very informative and educational. Guides were very helpful, fun and sweet.Perfect experience

Me and my friends went out for something new and special to enjoy our trip to goa. Us 16 year olds, being from Mumbai were very interested by the deep roots of Goa that people don't talk about much. One of my closest friend aarya, trying to make her career in architecture was very interested to do this trail. Me and my friend shramya being obsessed with history we joined in with the excitement to take this as a new adventure to educate ourselves with the wonderful views of Goa. We visited many churches and homes of old and South Goa and understood the deep history behind it all. We were astonished by the churches from the 1400's and houses aging back to almost 700 years old. Our guides were so helpful and wholesome. We didn't once feel like outsiders and we never lost interest. We loved talking to them and sharing stories as well. We were always welcomed and taken care of. We met some amazing people on the way and visited beautiful Goan/indo-portugese/Indo-European homes. They took us in with open arms and showed us around. We saw the architecture and tools people used back then way before electricity and modern technology. We saw the genius innovative minds the people used in those times. Our overall experience was terrific and we will surely return to do all the trails and meet more amazing people and visit mindblowing architectural sites and homes. I would love to spend more time with the people i met and talk to them about the history of this state and country. This was surely extremely memorable for us and very fun for sure! - Shree Kutty.

Very fun and informative tour with an amazing guide!

What makes the whole concept of the tour is the tour guide. This tour was a clear proof of this argument. My guide Adolfina was just so engaged, professional, knowledable and experienced at her work. I was thinking a tour focusing simply one form of architecture, which is church, might be boring. However it turned to be very interesting because of magic touch of my dear guide Adolfina. She is into the topic, she is at the center. She is not showing it. She plays the story and also takes you in it. I really enjoyed alot also their lunch box. It was super fresh and delicious. The route was perfect, the start and the end. It was really poetic and a greatly studied route. One little suggestion would be that being in a new environment, taking pictures is an important thing to live the moment in memories. So maybe guide can suggest some good spots to take good pictures too. She is a great person, I highly recommend you to have her as your guide.

Best tour in Goa!

The tour was fascinating and really enriched my experience of Goa. I learnt about history, art and tradition in the region with its many cultural layers. My guide was really inclusive and helpful in guiding our small group around these historic cultural sites. As well as this sensitivity was shown to people of all backgrounds and religions. I could easily do this tour again as there was so much to learn and experience. On top of all of this, the group was gifted delicious Goan delicacies, which was completely unexpected, as well as a soul travelling light weight carry bag. Really thoughtful operators, safe and kind.

Christian Art Trial - Old Goa

The walking tour of the Christian Art Trail was one of the highlights of our visit to Goa. Bob and Karan were a great team. Not only did they provide history of the art and architecture of the three standing churches, one church site now in ruins and the artifacts in the museum we visited - they were able to answer all kinds of general questions that came their way. The tour takes you to places about a mile away from the main tourist area of Old Goa, so it really completed our day as we were able to take in the other sites in addition to the Christian Art Trail. After the walking tour, we enjoyed tea and snacks with our hosts which really made the entire experience special. We highly recommend this tour and look forword to signing up for other trails that Soul Travelling offers.

Unforgettable

Adolfina was great. She had great bits of information that i’ll take back and remember the next time I travel anywhere. The locations were great and so were the stories

Perfect evening at Panjim

Adolfina was the the sweetest host we could have asked for. Her insights and sense of humour made our entire day.

Amazing !

Priyanka accompanied us - she was full of stories and interesting anecdotes that made our trip fun - she is passionate and enthusiastic. The trail is steeped in history so people who want to understand the goan history and culture - this is a must do!

A wonderful day spent walking through some of Goa's fascinating Christian Art

The Christian Art trail in Old Goa was simply amazing! Our guide Bob was simply amazing... brimming with information, interactive nature and such a warm person completely invested in the history and important of some of Goa's most spectacular sites... The church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Museum of Christian Art, the ruins of the Augustine tower, the church of Our Lady of Grace and the Royal chapel of St. Anthony....these sites were like gold dust for a person like me who is fond of history... I just realised how much of Goa I've not seen even after living here for 28 years... I would like to thank the team at Soul Travelling... you'll truly are doing such amazing work!!! Look forward to going on more trails and seeing more of Goa soon!!! All the very best!!!

Very informative trail

It was an awesome experience. Bob was so good with his explanations, very well versed in the details of all the art effects in the museum. It was a lovely interactive trail. All the best to Soul Travelling team

An unforgettable experience

We were hosted by the awesome Bob Abreo who showed us a Goa I lived in for years but rediscovered it today! The Museum of Christian Art is a place I'll be visiting often now, such a serene place. Bob gave us a good rundown of the history and art of the places, looking forward to more amazing memories with soul traveling ❤️

Excellent excellent excellent!

This was our 2nd walking tour with Soul Travelling and Bob. We were so engrossed in the stories that we never stopped despite the rain. Bob and his associates made sure we were always comfortable and entertained. We learnt so much about the history of Old Goa! It makes the world of a difference when you have such knowledgeable guides. We also loved the snack stop at the end which was like a trip down our childhood memory lane. Thank you Bob (and the lovely associates)! I hope you guys expand into different parts of India and Europe.

The real Goa.

We wanted to know the real Goa when we planned our visit, this experience really helped us to achieve that. Our guide Mr.Frazer was truly an enthusiastic ,he explained everything and answered all our questions. He made this whole experience really a beautiful journey through the Portuguese Era in Goa.

A magical stroll where history sings and stories come alive.

We knew Goa had more to offer than beaches and raves. Adolfina made us believe we were right in our guess. Having little knowledge of Portuguese rule and Christianity in India, we were initially apprehensive when booking the tour. Adolfina started with the basics and weaved the story so beautifully that we could imagine the stories coming alive. Loved the simplicity she carried and the insights we found through the walk, which otherwise would have been just ruins or a touristy place for pictures. I hope more people attend the walks with Adolfina and Soul Traveling because our history and heritage are extremely rich and it's worth indulging in. The nuances in architecture and the carvings are the main highlights for me, personally. We got free goodies to top it up and heartfelt prayers by Adolfina as we came closer to the end. It was an overwhelming experience. Loved it. Would keep coming back for more.

Great trail on christianism in Goa

Amazing trail with Adolfina who loves goa christianism and history! Really recommand to book this tour to discover the strength of portuguese presence here

Insightful and exciting trail exploring Christianity in Old Goa

Adolfina is just Amazing! Very beautifully explained the rise of the Portuguese and the emergence of Christianity in the present day land of Goa. Being a history enthusiast and an explorer of various religious beliefs, this walk was super insightful to say the least. The churches and the museum we visited had mesmerising architecture and Adolfina explained the origin of every single details & intricacies. To top it up, she offered prayers in one of the churches for us and that melted my heart. I’ve been to multiple Heritage walks across the country but this was hands down the best.

Explore the Gems of Goa

Goa has long been known for its historical churches. Thank you, Bob and Nandini, from Soul Travelling, for passionately explaining the outstanding works of art on the walls of these monumental buildings, the trail of the Portuguese, and the hidden gem that Goa, especially Old Goa is. Bob and Nandini are so knowledgeable and kind, and we learned a great deal about the culture and roots of Goa. I highly recommend all my friends to explore Goa with Soul Travelling.

My Day 2 @ Goa

I have visited many historical places all over India. But here in Goa I had an incredible experience with Soul Travels, as the way the entire catholic history was explained. Adolfina is such a knowledgeable lady.. and I personally have felt such peace after the trail.. had lovely evening snack at Cozina de Nunes..

Great experience

The historical stories of all the churches are amazing. Adolfina was very knowledgeable! She was simply brilliant!

Ohh Lord...What an amazing trail with Soul Travelling

It was our first trail with Soul Travelling and trust me it was damn amazing experience.. We got to know each and every aspects of the Christian architecture.. One of the coolest guy I met ( from team soul travelling ) was Zahur.. no doubt he's damn informative and confident of what he's saying to his listeners... He narrated very well the histories and also cleared our doubts.. personally I learned so many things... team soul travelling along with their founder Varun gave us a new perspective and piqued our interest in culture even more... I would recommend them to everyone who'll be visiting Goa and want a new perspective especially South Goa....

Highly recommend!

Having seen the commercial side of Old Goa multiple times, I was keen on exploring off the map locations and this trail did just that. Our ambassador Joshua was an absolute delight! With a treasure trove of fascinating insight into Goa’s past, he made this trail super fun, so much so that my friends who weren’t as keen were left asking the most number of questions by the end of it! Highly highly highly recommend this trail!

historical/religious experience

complete information of the history ot Portuguese arrival and activities around old goa.Also learnt various christian religious activities.

MOCA trail with Joshua

Church of our lady of the rosary was a very interesting visit full of history and amazing insights. The visit to MOCA was great too and lastly, restricted access to a very special church made our day!

Informative, Interesting and Engaging

Trail was really good and informative. Our Guide Adolfina explained the history behind all places we visited in a very captivating manner. All together had great time

Especially for Art & Histrory Enthusiasts - Must Do

This was our second trail with Soul Traveling and it was an amazing experience. Being an artist I simply love every part of goa, cause there is something beautiful tucked in it. Adolfina our ambassador explained everything so beautifully, it seemed as if we have gone back in time and our witnessing everything with our own eyes. From how a church looked like a watch tower, to hidden artworks, to appreciating the grandeur it must have been. The 2.5 hours went by very quickly. The best was visiting St. ANTHONY 's church, and praying their thanks to Adolfina. It was an extremely powerful and humbling experience especially for me. The snacks provided by them were also yum. We definitely will be doing more trails with Soul Traveling and Adolfina thank you so much for showing the beautiful part of Goa through your eyes.

Don't give this a miss

This was our second walking tour with Soul Travelling and this time our ambassador was Adolfina. This trail was a bit like a Dan Brown novel, as Adolfina took us not just through art but the very history surrounding the artwork. Her explanation made the surroundings jump to life as we navigated through the Portuguese re-conquest, the kavi art, the saints and their miracles, and a finale that brought tears (of gratitude) to my wife. It was a soul enriching experience

Cathartic, beautiful and informative - a must do

Tour Guide - Adolfina Hi I'm Srijan and I'm a sucker for history. This was my 4th trail with Soul Travelling and my partner's favorite. We were taken on an adventure with the perfect amount of intrigue and excitement. We learned so many things we never knew about the wonderful and rich history of Goa - the invasions, the religious aspects, the many dimensions of history which you can never get from textbooks. It really was cathartic to go to the breathtaking expanses of Old Goa, learn about art and architecture with some of the warmest guides. I really, really recommend this. You will learn a lot and be left with a lot of context heading into old goa again.

Christian art trail

If you're in Goa and are looking to do offbeat things- you should not miss out on soul traveling. As an art lover I always wanted to explore the churches in Goa and the rich history associated with them. The Christian art trail was my favourite trail so far with the most incredible guides- Adolfina and Nandini. Their knowledge and passion for the trail was incredible. Would highlyyy recommend it. Soul traveling - we're excited to see your journey and expansion again and try out everything you have to offer.

A Soul Travelling Experience

Me and my friend decided to take the tour all of a sudden and Beverly was kind enough to coordinate. We had the most enriching experience with Adolfina who had so much knowledge on the subject. She took us back to those days and we actually got immersed in thought. Thank you Adolfina and Soul Travelling. We are coming for more. Our Souls indeed travelled back in time Mog Assun

Truly an exquisite Art Trail

So, this was my second trail with Soul Travelling. If you want to know the real Goa you surely can't miss out on this experience! It didn’t feel like a usual tour as our trail guide Joshua also shared interesting facts from his own experience. Learned many things on our trail and those information can’t be find in any museum! We had a delightful experience walking through streets of Old Goa. The knowledge of the places, it’s people and the history of the place is immense. It was like taking a walk with a friend to enjoy a page of history. We saw some beautiful old churches that were so exquisite. We thank Soul Travelling for making that happen. The delicious snacks were a wonderful way to enjoy the trip. Joshua really made this whole experience interactive and fun. I would highly recommend the tour to all who want to have a taste of the real Goa.😁😇

" A LEARNING EXPERIENCE"

So I have been in Panjim for 4 years now but i never knew the existence of the oldest churches in Goa, it was a good experience..And our guide Joshua totally new each and every aspect of the churches we were visiting..and was very keen on answering all our doubts.. A good trail with Soul Traveling and I recommend Christian art trail if you are the one interested in churches..

Mesmerizing walk

Personalised attention coupled with friendly conversational style. To add on energy and enthusiasm of the ambassador Adolfina made the overall experience memorable one. Highly recommend the trail with soul travelling and experience the enrich history of old times in amazing stories

Great itinerary, great guide

I enjoyed this walk a lot. Our guide, Adolfina, was wonderful. She was very knowledgeable and happy to answer our questions. The itinerary for the walk was perfect too, we got a good glimpse into this part of Goa and would highly recommend!

A different view of Goa

Our soul travel guide Adolfina was simply amazing. The historical and architectural details given by her gave us a new perspective and piqued our interest in culture even more . Didn't want the tour to end

Goa - a city of culture

It was simply a marvelous experience. The history, the architecture, the stories revolving around it were extremely interesting and more importantly something new. Our soul travel guide Aldolphina was amazing . Her enthusiasm and zeal was infectious.

Christian art

I loved Adolfina and her knowledge of Goa and history in-depth. Will always want her everywhere. Very respectful and courteous and gave her best to make us happy and fulfilled with our outing🙏

Quite a enriching experience.

Site visit was good. The guide was informative and really had a passion to tell the tale and keep us engaged and did a good job connecting the dots of history and legend. Also going through the Christian history and the early Portuguese and Christian art of the Augustines , jesuits was great. Only thing missed out was the Christian art museum which was under renovation. But was good to end up our visit at bom jesus and pay homage to st Francis xavier.

The hidden gems of goa

It was fantastic seeing Goa in a new light. Discovering these churches was the highlight of my trip. Our guide Ms Adolfina was not only engaging but also extremely informative. Her stories about the rich culture and heritage of Goa were just the cherry on top. This activity is a must do! Looking forward to experience more with soul travelling !

Must do the Christian Art Trail

Great Experience with Soul travelling on the Christian Art Trail Adolfina was amazing and took us back in time to the history of Goa Was interactive as she patiently answered our questions with obvious factual knowledge Saw Goa with a new lens and we really enjoyex the trail and the musuem visit and an added bonus listening to Latin Hymns

Highly Engaging!

The little anecdotes provided by the instructor were extremely fascinating! It added a personal touch to the factual and historical side of the stories. Told wonderfully by Ms. Adolfina, the entire walk is captivating and one that shouldn't be missed!

Highly recommended

While I had been to the Museum of Christian Art on my own a few months ago, I found this walk quite interesting as it covers much more than that & it helps with Adolfina’s insights of the historical past of Goa.

The Christian Art Trail, Old Goa

Great way to start your Goa trip. After this experience one can roam in goa with a wisdom. Thanks to Adolfina who was our tour lead. A Multidimensional lady. It is a must to have experience.

Superb Experience and highly recommended MoCA trail in Old Goa

The trail was a great experience. I had no idea about what I was about to experience. But I must say our Journey guide Adolfina was a great host.She was very knowledgeable and interactive. She was able to keep all of us engaged all the time. Knowing about past and history attached to Goa and flourishing of a noble religion and community of Christianity in India was a great experience. The museum of Christian art is very well made or its a good effort in making something new to the city of Goa. I strongly recommend if you are off beat traveller and if BBC (Beach, Booze and Casino) you are on your Murtaugh List.

Enriching

This trail was a great learning experience for us about our heritage churches n monuments in old goa. We all had a great time especially the enthusiasm of Adolfina was very contagious We could have a trial involving the Basilica, se cathedral n St cajetan church in the future...

Christian art trail

If you wish to know the history, culture, then the best is you can take a tour with this group . They are amazing. Joshua guided me on this trail, he is knowledgeable, fluent and helpful.