Chapel of Our Lady of The Mount

This is one of the most interesting building in Old Goa. It contain gilded and carved woodwork, old murals depicting scenes from the life of St Francis, and a floor substantially made of carved gravestones-complete with family coats of arms dating back to the early 16th century. The church was built by eight Franciscan friars who arrives here in 1517 and constructed a small chapel consisting of three altars and a choir. This was later pulled down and the present building was built on the same spot in 1661. The convent at the back of this church is now the Archaeological Museum (open Saturday to Thursday, 10 am to 5 pm; free entry). It is home to many portraits of the Portuguese viceroys, most of them inexpertly touched up or restored; fragments of sculpture from Chalukyan and Hoysala influences; stone Vetal images from the animist cult which flourished in this part of India Centuries ago; and model of a Portuguese carvel, minus the rigging. Architecture of the Building The exterior of the Church is of the Tuscan Order while the main entrance is in Manu line style. The main altar is Baroque with Corinthian features. There are no aisles but only a nave, which is rib-vaulted. The internal buttress walls, separating the chapels and supporting the gallery on top, have frescoes showing intricate floral designs. In a niche on the fa