Espirito Santo Church

Espirito Santo Church, Founded: 1564, Feast: Pentecost (50 days after Easter)

History: The earliest church in Margao was founded by the Jesuits in 1564. This church was destroyed by fire in 1571. The second built in 1571, was also destroyed eight years later and the third also was short lived. The fourth church was built a little further away in 1589. It was consecrated in 1595, enlarged in 1604 and lasted till 1645. The present church, the fifth one, was built in 1675.

Architectural notes:

• Neo-Roman style with Baroque features
• Very large size, 5 bays x 4 storeys
• Sequence of Arch-Rectangle-Oculus-Niche
• Pots-with-flames finials on Pozzoan pediment
• Third storey has festooned niche of Pentecostal
 Scene: Holy Spirit descending on Aposles
• Pilaster-column sequence PC-CPCC-CCPC-CP
• Twin bell towers with pot-bud finials