St. Francis Church
Vasco da Gama’s tomb Is inside this ancient church.
Facade of St. Francis Church
The oldest european church in India. Tombstone of Vasco Da Gama is located inside this church.
T
he oldest European church in India. Originally built by the Portuguese in 1503 , was a wooden structure. What you see now is a rebuilt structure by the Dutch Protestants in 1779. Some two decades later the British converted into an Anglican Church.Today this church is under the care of the Church of South India.
Apart from the antiquity and architectural merits, what is peculiar about this Church is a tomb inside it , that of Vasco da Gama.
He died in Kerala in 1524, and was buried here temporarily.
Some 14 years later, his body was taken to his home country for re-burial.
St. Francis Church is on the western side of Fort Kochi, just around the Parade Ground.