Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica

The Portuguese, it is said, built many churches in Fort Kochi, among which, only two were left standing by the Dutch. One was the St. Francis Church and the other was the Santa Cruz Cathedral. While the former remained a church, the latter was used as an armory, and eventually, during the British reign, was demolished and rebuilt.
The new church, consecrated in 1905, is painted white on the outside, but inside, is a riot of colour. There are frescoes and paintings covering almost every inch of the cathedral, from the altar to the pillars, and walls to the ceiling. The art here is the work of Antonio Moscheni, a Jesuit brother and painter, best known for his frescoes at the Church of the St. Aloysius College in Mangalore. His work can also be seen at the Holy Name Cathedral in Mumbai. Unfortunately, though Moscheni was responsible for most of the artwork at this cathedral, he did not live to see it appreciated. He passed away just four days before the consecration of the church! What a quirk of fate!
Outside the church is a shrine to Our Lady of Fatima, and the church as well as the shrine sees a continuous flow of worshippers. The cathedral isn’t on the regular tourist circuit, but one certainly worth a visit.
Note: The Santa Cruz Basilica is located in the centre of the town, and is a prominent landmark. The church is open on all days, and regular prayers are carried out every day. The church may be more crowded on weekends due to prayer services.