St. Francis Church - Kochi - India

St. Francis Church

St. Francis Church is a historic church located in Fort Kochi, India. It was built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars and is the oldest European church in India. The church is renowned for its Gothic architecture and is a popular tourist destination. It is also known as the “Church of the Santa Cruz” and is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. The church is believed to be the burial site of the famous explorer Vasco da Gama, who died in Kochi in The church also houses a museum with artifacts from the Portuguese era.