St. Augustine Tower - Majestic Ruins in Old Goa

Goa, GoaHERITAGE SITE

The ruins of a 17th-century church complex in Old Goa, featuring a massive 46-meter high laterite tower. A key part of Goa's UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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HERITAGE SITE

Info

1 hour

Accessibility

Not Wheelchair Friendly

Parking

No Parking

Photography

No Photography

About the Destination

Overview

The St. Augustine Tower is the striking remnant of the once-grand Church of Our Lady of Grace, part of a vast Augustinian monastery complex. Located atop Monte Santo (Holy Hill) in Old Goa, the tower is all that remains of a church that was once considered one of the largest in Goa. Today, visitors see a single, imposing 46-meter-high laterite tower standing against the sky. The surrounding grounds contain the excavated ruins and foundations of the church and convent, allowing you to trace the layout of this massive historical structure.

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Location & Address

Monte Santo, Velha Goa, Near Church of St. Cajetan, Old Goa (Velha Goa), Goa, Goa, India

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Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit is from November to February when the weather in Goa is cool and pleasant, with minimal humidity. This period is ideal for exploring the open-air site comfortably. The monsoon season, from June to September, sees heavy rainfall, making the pathways slippery and overgrown. The summer months, from March to May, can be extremely hot and humid, making a daytime visit uncomfortable.
Peak Crowd: November-January, weekends, and public holidays, as this is the peak tourist season in Goa.
Moderate Crowd: February-March and October, during weekday afternoons.
Low Crowd: April-June due to the summer heat, and July-September during the heavy monsoon season.

How to Reach

Air

Goa's Dabolim Airport (GOI) is the nearest airport, located about 26 km away (approx. 45-60 minutes by taxi). The new Manohar International Airport, Mopa (GOX) is about 37 km away.

Train

Karmali (KRMI) is the closest railway station, just 3 km from Old Goa. However, major stations with better connectivity are Madgaon (MAO) at 35 km and Vasco da Gama (VSG) at 27 km.

Road

Old Goa is well-connected by road. It is located about 10 km from Panjim, the state capital. You can hire a taxi, auto-rickshaw, or rent a scooter/bike to reach the site easily from anywhere in North Goa.

Local Transport

Local buses from Panjim are a cheap and frequent option. Auto-rickshaws and motorcycle pilots are widely available for hire. Renting a scooter is a popular way for tourists to explore Old Goa and its surroundings at their own pace.