The Museum of Christian art is a unique repository of the exquisite Indo Portuguese church art that blossomed during the Portuguese era, and is located in Old Goa. The museum was set up in the year 1994 by the Archeological survey of India and was inaugurated by the president of India.

The Museum of Christian Art, reputed to be the only one of its kind in whole of Asia. The fabulous array of preserved art objects includes rosaries, crosses, statues, paintings, and other items made of gold and precious stone. The Museum of Christian Art showcases the wealth found in the various churches built by the Portuguese in Goa as well as some donations by private families. Intended to be a representative collection, every object displayed in the museum, reflects the immense wealth of the churches of Goa. The museum was originally set up with technical and financial assistance from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), New Delhi, and located at the Seminary of Rachol, Salcete, where it was inaugurated. The Museum is now relocated within the Convent of Santa Monica, Old Goa, in the vicinity of the ruins of St. Augustine's Tower.

The central theme in the selection of objects for this Museum, apart from their antiquity is the Indian (predominantly Hindu) contribution to Christian Art. It is this that has made the Museum unique. The aim in setting up this Museum is to conserve and exhibit valuable objects for public viewing, and cooperate in efforts for preservation of objects of Sacred Art.

Getting to Museum Of Christian Art

The museum of Christian art is located within an extension of the Convent of Santa Monica. near the ruins of the tower of St. Augustine in old Goa. The museum can be reached by taking the road to the right just before the church of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. Just opposite the museum lies the ruins of the tower of St. Augustine. You can travel to the museum bus if you are willing to take a short walk from Old Goa. Most tourists travel to this place by private vehicles.