The Church of St. Francis of Assisi was built during 1517-1521 AD by the Franciscan friars. It is located in Old Goa and 9 Km away from Panaji. The church and the attached convent were built by eight Franciscan friars. When they arrived here in 1517 they had asked for few houses from the Governor. These earlier belonged to a deceased thanadar. With their continuous efforts they constructed a small chapel with three altars and a choir. A church consecrated to the Holy Ghost was built in 1521. However, later it was pulled down. The present church was built on the same spot in 1661 keeping intact only the entrance of the earlier church.

The church has been built of laterite blocks and is lime-plastered. It faces the west direction. The church has a nave with three chapels on side, a choir, two altars in the transept and a main altar. The convent houses AST`s museum. The exterior of the church is of Tuscan Order while the main entrance is in Manuline style. The main altar is Baroque with Corinthian features. There are no aisles but only a nave. The walls on the interior side have been decorated with frescoes displaying intricate floral designs. These walls separate chapels and supporting the gallery on top. A statue of St. Michael has been erected in a niche on the facade. Earlier there was also a statue of Our Lady of Miracles that was brought from Jaffna in Sri Lanka. A wooden statue of St. Francis of Assisi adorns a pedestal bearing the insignia of the Franciscans. One can also see a wooden pulpit on the left hands side carved beautifully with floral designs. The main altar is located beneath a ribbed vault that has been embellished with floral designs. The altar has been gilded and has a richly carved niche. The main altar also houses a large statue of St. Francis of Assisi and also a statue of Jesus on the Cross. The three vows of the saint are inscribed below the two figures. These are poverty, humility and obedience. Striking paintings made on wood can be seen on either side of the main altar. These paintings portray instances from the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Some of the scenes that have been depicted here are an angel telling his mother that he would be born to her who would become a great saint, His birth, His first anointment, Praying at the church of St. Dominica when he is instructed by Jesus to maintain His Kingdom, the Saint taking the oath and joining the Dominican Order, His visit to the Sultan of Damascus and the Saint showing his wounds to Pope Gregory IX. On the western side there is a choir that houses paintings from Franciscan hagiology. The wooden panels here have also been carved attractively.

Renovation Work of Church of St. Francis of Assisi
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi has been repaired and renovated several times. ASI`s Mini Circle carried out extensive conservation work here.

The exterior walls were painted and the damaged seating arrangement and panel paintings have been repaired. The wall portion had been re-plastered. The cellar entrance has been adorned with a grilled gate. The church thus now looks very appealing and is visited by many people.