St. Francis Church Ernakulam

The history of this pilgrim center dates back to AD 1503. This church, made of mud and wood, is situated in the middle of a fort that has been built by the Portuguese with the permission of the then Cochin Raja. The church was dedicated to St. Bartholomew but it was later reconstructed and dedicated to St. Antonio, the patron saint of Portugal. It is one of the must-visit tourist attractions in the vibrant port city of Kochi.

The St. Francis Church Kerala is the oldest existing European church in India. The legendary Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama was buried in the St. Francis Church in the year 1524. Even though his remains were later taken to Portugal, the church still has the burial spot and tombstone inside, which attracts more visitors to this historic church. A war memorial was built later in front of the church in memory of those soldiers from Kochi who lost their lives during World War I.
The St. Francis Church architecture is the old European style with very less decorative elements unlike other European church construction models. The interior of the church reflects the ancient Indo-European architecture with wooden roof and stone flooring.
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Ernakulam Railway Station, about 13 km
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 42 km
Google map coordinates: X68R+C8 Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala