At the height of its splendor, Old Goa was home to more than two lakh inhabitants and was hailed as one of the grandest cities of the East. The Portuguese proudly coined the phrase, “Quem viu Goa excusa de ver Lisboa” i.e. “He who has seen Goa need not see Lisbon.” This boast captured Goa’s glory as the glittering hub of the Portuguese maritime empire. What is the government of Goa, doing to keep up to the glorious titles given to Goa by the Portuguese?
Today, however, Old Goa stands as a shadow of its past. Yet, the surviving monuments offer a glimpse into its magnificent history, when the city was revered as the “Rome of the East.”
Originally called Elá, Old Goa was located on the island of Tiswadi along the Mandovi River. By the late 15th century, it flourished under the Bijapur kingdom as a thriving commercial hub. After its conquest by the Portuguese on November 25, 1510, it became both the epicenter of their Eastern empire and a major base for the spread of Christianity in Asia.
The city reached its peak in the mid-16th century, before a steep decline set in. Epidemics, coupled with the fragmentation of Portuguese power in the East, led to its abandonment. Much of its famed religious, civil, and defensive architecture eventually fell into ruin.
Interestingly, the topography of Old Goa closely resembles Lisbon, both cities built upon seven hills. The Goan hills include Monte Santo (Holy Hill), Nossa Senhora do Monte, Santo Amaro, Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Boa Vista (Monte Formoso), Forca, and Santíssima Trindade (Holy Trinity). This mirrored Lisbon’s own famed seven hills: São Jorge, Santa Catarina, Santo André, São Roque, Chagas, Santana, and São Vicente.
Despite its decline, Old Goa remains a UNESCO World Heritage site, drawing visitors who seek to rediscover the grandeur of this once-vibrant city.