Goa- The Paradise on Earth. If one word could be said to encapsulate the essence of Goa, it would  have to be the Portuguese sossegarde, meaning "carefree". The pace of life in this former colonial enclave, midway down India's southwest coast, has picked up over the past twenty years, but inspite of the increasing chaos of its capital, beach resorts and market towns, Goa has retained the laid-back feel that has traditionally set it apart from  the rest of the country .It's 1.6 million inhabitants are unequivocal about the roots of their distinctiveness, while most of the overlords were the Portuguese, a people far more inclined to enjoy the good things in life than their Anglo-Saxon counterparts.

Church Square
The leafy rectangular park opposite the India Government tourist office, known as Church Square or the Municipal Garden, forms the heart of Panjim. The church was built in 1541 for the benefit of saliors arriving here from Lisbon.

The Secretarait
With its sloping tiled roofs, carved-stone coats of arms and wooden verandas, the stalwart Secretariat looks typically colonial. Yet, it was originally the summer palace of Goa's 16th century Muslin ruler. Today it accommodates the Goan State Legislature.

Fountainhas
Panjim oldest and most interesting district, Fountainhas, lies immediately west of Pato, overlooking the banks of the green Ourem Creek. Many building have retained their traditional coat of ochre, pale yellow, green or blue- a legacy of the Portuguese insistence that every Goan building should be color-washed after monsoons.

State Archaeological Museum
The most noteworthy feature of Panjim's State Archaeological Museum is its imposing size, which stands in glaringly inverse proportion to the collections inside. The only rarities to be found amid the lame array of temple sculpture, hero stones and dowdy colonial-era artifacts are a couple of beautiful Jain bronzes.

Chapel of St. Catherine - Old Goa
The chapel was rebuilt in 1552 on the remains of an earlier structure. .It stands as a living monument of the conquest of Goa. At one enters the chapel you will see a statue of Our Lady. On the beautiful altar dedicated to St. Catherine, upon which stands another statue of Our Lady Of Peity.

▪ Church Of St. Francis Of Assisi - Old Goa
Church of St.Francis of Assisi situated in Old Goa is a 17th century pieces of religious art. A beautiful octagonal tabernacle richly decorated in an ornate style has two statues, one of St. Francis of Assisi and the other of Jesus on the Cross.Vows of poverty, humility and obedience of St. Francis of Assisi's are in scripted right below these two statues.

▪ Basilica Of BomJesus - Old Goa
The world-renowned church contains the body of St. Francis Xavier, a former pupil of soldier turned - saint, Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Order of Jesuits.Inside the Basilica, you will see a beautiful display of architectural pieces in wood, stone, gold and granite.

▪ Chapel and Tomb of St. Francis Xavier
Chapel and Tomb of St. Francis Xavier is a plain chapel with only one altar and is built of laterite plastered with lime mortar, with tiled roof supported by wooden rafters.

▪ St. Cajetan Church - Old Goa
Modeled on the original design of St Peter's in Rome, this church was built by Italian friars of the Order of Theatines, who were sent by Pope Urban III to preach Christianity. The construction of the church began in 1655 in Old Goa.

▪ Mary Immaculate Conception Church - Panjim
Mary Immaculate Conception Church is situated in Panjim. The real beauty of this church can be see at night. As soon as evening sets in, this huge monument is transformed into a glowing specter. The whole Church brightens up at night. The Church bell is said to be the 2nd largest in the world.

▪ Shrine Of The Holy Cross - Bambolim
The church is also referred to as the church of flowers. This is because the white cross at the entrance of the Church is forever decorated by big flower garlands and candles. On any day at the Shrine you will find lodes of people making pilgrimages at the Cross.

▪ Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount
The Chapel of Our Lady Of The Mount built in 1557 is one of the symbols of the Portuguese victory. On a hill, to the East of Old City of Goa, commanding a picturesque view of the City of Goa and its surrounding villages, there stands a chapel of Our Lady of the Mount.

▪ Our Lady Of Grace Church - Margao
This church was a earlier a military chapel and was named 'Capela de Batalhao'.The feast of this Church is celebrated on the 1st Sunday of February. But there is no fair attached with the feast.