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All India Sao Bras Church
AO Edited

Sao Bras Church

This 16th century church is Goa's fascinating connection with Croatia.

Gandaulim, India

Added By
Vivek Gadre
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Sao Bras Church in Gandaulim, India.   Vivek Gadre / Atlas Obscura User
Sao Bras Church in Gandaulim, India.   Vivek Gadre / Atlas Obscura User
Signage for Sao Bras Church.   Vivek Gadre / Atlas Obscura User
Another view of Sao Bras Church.   Vivek Gadre / Atlas Obscura User
The road to Sao Bras Church.   Vivek Gadre / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Around 4 kilometers east of Old Goa, in the village of Gandaulim, India, on a hilltop, is an old church that has a fascinating connection with Croatia.

The Church of Sao Bras (Saint Blaise) was a chapel built by Croatian sailors and traders in 1541 and was later elevated to the status of a parish church in 1563. The church is a replica of Sveti Vlaho (St. Blaise) Church in Dubrovnik. It is believed that Croatian traders from that era settled in Gandaulim and formed their colony, which had around 12,000 residents once upon a time.

Croatian Indologist Zdravka Matisic discovered the reference to Croatia’s links with Goa while studying Sanskirt in India. After this discovery, an official delegation from Croatia visited this church in 1999 to further explore the historical connection between the two places.

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Added By

Vivek Gadre

Published

March 11, 2025

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Sources
  • https://www.trawell.in/goa/panjim/sao-bras-church-st-braz-church
  • https://goanchurches.info/church/st-blaise-church-gandaulimgoa/
  • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/croatian-documentary-teams-visit-stirs-up-gandaulims-historic-past/articleshow/87705040.cms
  • https://www.peepultree.world/livehistoryindia/story/amazing-india/the-croats-of-goa?srsltid=AfmBOoo1lvkEGc71nAOVPSK11TC7BWBpxrVMRJbFuUxzhmtE0e5LujZB
Sao Bras Church
Gandaulim, 403110
India
15.512338, 73.941484

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