CHURCH OF SAINT CAJETAN (DIVINE PROVIDENCE)

Without doubt one of the most beautiful churches in Goa! Italian monks of the Theatine order were sent in 1639 by Pope Urban VIII to found a convent and preach Christianity in the kingdom of Golconda (near Hyderabad). As they were not allowed to reside in Golconda, they settled in Goa. The church dedicated to Our Lady of Divine Providence was built in 1665 and is today better known as the church of Saint Cajetan, founder of the Theatines. It is the work of two Italian architects who chose a Greek cross plan where the four arms are of equal size. They decorated it with a Corinthian style facade topped by two bell towers and inspired by St. Peter's basilica in Rome. Four basalt statues representing Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Matthew occupy the niches at the bottom of the façade. The interior, baroque, is richly ornamented, especially the altarpieces of the chapels and the choir. The center of the cross is surmounted by a large dome, also inspired by Saint Peter's in Rome. The inscription at the base of the dome repeats verses from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. The rococo style pulpit is one of the jewels of the Goanese know-how. Under the dome there is a 22 meter deep well, built so that the water in the basement, which has damaged the walls on several occasions, can drain away.

The church is located about 500 meters northeast of the cathedral of Se.