Santa Cruz Basilica, Kochi

Santa Cruz Basilica, Kochi tickets: which one to buy

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica stands in Fort Kochi, the historic district of Kochi in Kerala, southern India, and entry is free. It is one of the most important churches in India and a short walk from the famous Chinese fishing nets, Saint Francis Church, where Vasco da Gama was first buried, and the colonial streets of the old town. Walking and cycling tours of Fort Kochi combine these sights with the Dutch Palace and the Jewish Synagogue in Mattancherry.

Ferries connect Fort Kochi with Ernakulam, the modern part of the city. Kochi is also the starting point for backwater cruises in Kerala. Visitors should dress modestly, remove shoes when required, and remain quiet during services, which are held in Malayalam and English. Photography is usually allowed outside service times. Auto-rickshaws and bicycles are the easiest ways to move between the sights of Fort Kochi.

Visiting Santa Cruz Basilica, Kochi: what to see

The first church on this site was built by the Portuguese in 1505, soon after they arrived in Kochi, and it became a cathedral in 1558. When the Dutch conquered Kochi in 1663 they destroyed many Catholic buildings but used this one as a warehouse, and the British later demolished it in 1795. The present church was built between 1887 and 1905 by Bishop Joao Gomes Ferreira, and it was declared a basilica in 1984. The exterior, painted white with tall twin spires, is in a Gothic style. Inside, the church is decorated with colourful paintings and frescoes by the Italian Jesuit painter Antonio Moscheni and his pupils, including scenes of the Passion and a Last Supper modelled on Leonardo da Vinci's.

The stained glass windows, the carved pillars and the ceiling paintings create a vibrant interior. Two pillars from the original Portuguese church are preserved in the grounds. The main altar holds a statue of Our Lady, and the side altars are decorated with painted panels and carvings. Moscheni's paintings on the ceiling show the Stations of the Cross and scenes from the life of Christ. The church's wooden pews and floor tiles give it a colonial feel. A small museum displays religious objects and documents on the history of the diocese of Cochin, one of the oldest in India. The exterior spires are visible from the waterfront.

Santa Cruz Basilica, Kochi opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open daily, with limited visits during masses, especially on Sundays. Kochi has a tropical climate, with the south-west monsoon from June to September bringing heavy rain, and the most comfortable season from November to February. Christmas and Easter are celebrated with large congregations, and the church is decorated with lights.

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale, an international art festival held every two years from December to March, fills Fort Kochi with exhibitions. Allow about twenty minutes for the basilica, and walk to the Chinese fishing nets at sunset. The Mattancherry spice market, a short auto-rickshaw ride away, is busy with traders selling pepper, cardamom and ginger.