Vasco da Gama was buried in St. Francis Church for 14 years before his bones were shipped home to Lisbon. The empty slab is still in the floor.
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St. FRANCIS CSI CHURCH
Vasco da Gama was buried here for fourteen years; the empty slab remains.
Church · Also called St. Francis Church.
St. Francis Church is the oldest European church in India, first built in wood and mud in 1503 and rebuilt in stone by 1516. Vasco da Gama was buried here for fourteen years before his bones were returned to Lisbon; the empty slab remains in the floor. Portuguese gravestones line one wall and Dutch stones another, while hand-pulled cloth punkah fans still hang overhead. The church also preserves a Dutch baptism and marriage register from 1751 to 1804.
A monument of national importance.
Visiting
| Address | Saint Francis Church Road, Fort Kochi |
|---|---|
| Quarter | Fort Kochi |
| Hours | Monday9am – 5pm Tuesday9am – 5pm Wednesday9am – 5pm Thursday9am – 5pm Friday9am – 3pm Saturday9am – 1pm SundayClosed |
| Entry | Free |
| Contact | 081290 11503 |
Fact 1 of 3: Vasco da Gama was buried in St. Francis Church for 14 years before his bones were shipped home to Lisbon. The empty slab is still in the floor.
The Ultimate Guide to St. FRANCIS CSI CHURCH
Visit India's oldest European church in Fort Kochi. Built 1503 by the Portuguese, captured by the Dutch, rebuilt by the British. Free entry. Here's what to know before you go.
What the cats hear
What visitors liked
- India's oldest European church, and Vasco da Gama's original burial site.
- Peaceful, well-maintained, quiet sanctuary.
- A unique feature — manually operated cloth fans (punkahs).
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