Santacruz Basilica

Posted Date: 06 Feb 2010 Author: Latha Jayaprakash

Member Level: Gold

The Santa cruz Basilica is the oldest of all the churches in India, not only in Kerala. At present Santacruz Basilica is one of the 8 Basilicas in India and recently the church had completed its 5th century.

The Santacruz Basilica is an ancient church in the city of Kochi which was built by Portuguese in the year 1505 and was elevated to a Cathedral in 1558. Later this church was spared when the Dutch came demolished all the other catholic buildings.

But the British later demolished when they took over Kochiin 1795 but 100 years later was rebuilt and consecrated in 1905. Then Pope John Paul II raised the Cathedral as a Basilica through a special decree in 1984.

You will find in the Santacruz Basilica a blend of the Indo-European architecture plus the gothic style. The making of the pulpit and the wooden paneling of this cathedral is impressive looking and you can also find Italian paintings from the original foundation of the church.

You have to reach either Kochi International Airport or Ernakulam Railway station. From there you can access Fort Kochi either by auto, cab or bus to boat jetty and boat from there to Fort Kochi.