One of the many beautiful churches in Old Goa which is also considered to be a UNESCO Heritage site, St Cajetan's Church was earlier known as The Church of Our Lady of Divine Providence and the main altar of the church is in fact dedicated to Our Lady of Divine Providence.
Modelled on the lines of the original design of the Basilica of St Peter in Rome and built with laterite stone plastered with line by the Italian friars of the Order of Theatines, the church is an example of Corinthian architecture although there are Baroque elements in the gilded altars.
It was Pope Urban III who sent the friars down to India to the kingdom of Golconda to preach about Christianity following which they settled in Goa in 164 and slowly built the church.The church is named after the founder of the Theatine order, St.Cajetan (a contemporary of St.Francis Xavier).
The church has seven altars in all, the other six are dedicated to the Holy Family, Our Lady of Piety, St. Clare, St. John, St. Cajetan and St. Agnes. The paintings on the altars are done in Italian style with some depicting paintings from the life of St. Cajetan. If you walk up to the main altar one can see a square raised podium which a well beneath it .
There are few things better, if you want to trigger a scientific curiosity in children in Goa, than a visit to the Goa Science Centre.
With a diversity of games and exciting things todo, all of them rooted to scientific principles, the Centre sees a beeline of school students every day. Located right next to the Miramar beach and with a five acre campus, the Centre is a great fun as well as an educative option for an outing, especially if there are children with you.
The best part about the Goa Science Centre is not that all the scientific, but fun-filled demonstrations are conducted indoors. There are a whole range of outdoor activities too, which explain basic physics and other scientific principles in an engaging manner. For example, which child would not like to learn how the scientific principle behind a pulley works, when he or she is being lifted up by the gravity-defying gadget?
The basic aim of the centre is to make science fun for children and that it does with aplomb. What’s more, there is also a digital Planetarium on the grounds of the Goa Science Centre, where you can be intimate with space and all the interstellar bodies.
Daily shows are organised at the Planetarium and it would be best if you could call and book yourselves on one. There are also daily 3-D film shows, science film shows and cyber lab shows at the Centre.
Goa Science Centre
Miramar, Goa
Contact; +918322463426
