St. Francis Church
India's oldest European church — and Vasco da Gama's original burial place.
- Timings
- Around 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Sunday services only in the morning
- Entry fee
- Free
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Best time
- Any morning
About St. Francis Church
Built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, St. Francis is the oldest European church in India. Vasco da Gama died in Kochi in 1524 and was buried here; his remains were moved to Lisbon fourteen years later, but the gravestone is still in the floor. The building has been Catholic, then Dutch Protestant, then Anglican, and is now Church of South India — a fair summary of Kerala's colonial history in one structure. Note the punkahs, the hand-pulled cloth fans, still strung above the pews.
Insider tips
- Da Gama's original gravestone is marked in the floor — easy to walk past
- Look up for the rope-pulled punkah fans
- Two minutes' walk from the Chinese fishing nets
St. Francis Church — common questions
What are the St. Francis Church timings?
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St. Francis Church is open Around 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Sunday services only in the morning.
What is the entry fee for St. Francis Church?
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Entry: Free.
How much time do you need at St. Francis Church?
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Plan for roughly 30 minutes.
What is the best time to visit St. Francis Church?
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Any morning.
How crowded does St. Francis Church get?
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Low crowd levels overall.
Nearby
More to see in Kochi
HeritageFort Kochi & Chinese Fishing Nets
Cantilevered shore-operated nets on a waterfront layered with Portuguese, Dutch and British history.
PalaceMattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)
Portuguese-built, Dutch-renovated, and home to some of India's finest Hindu murals.
HeritageParadesi Synagogue
Built in 1568 — the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth, floored in hand-painted Chinese tiles.
BeachCherai Beach
A 15 km strip on Vypin Island with the sea on one side and backwaters on the other.