Back in 1503, when Netflix was just a twinkle in someone's eye, this church was built, making it one of the oldest European churches in all of India. Pretty impressive, right? It's been standing here in Fort Kochi, Kochi ever since, serving as a witness to the European colonial ambitions in this part of the world.
Now, let me tell you about the famous Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama. Picture this: It's the year 1524, and good ol' Vasco is on his third visit to India. Unfortunately, this trip took a turn for the worse because Vasco da Gama actually died right here in Kochi. But fear not! This church served as his temporary resting place. They buried him here, but after fourteen years his remains were relocated to Lisbon and now rest at the Jerónimos Monastery. Talk about an adventurous afterlife journey!
Now, let me rewind a bit and take you back to when it all began. The Portuguese first arrived in India in 1498, thanks to Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route from Europe. They landed near Kozhikode (Calicut) and were followed by a bunch of other explorers. Pedro Álvares Cabral and Afonso de Albuquerque joined the party, and together, they decided to build Fort Emmanuel at the Fort Kochi Beach with permission from the Raja of Cochin.
Inside that fort, they constructed a church with a unique twist - it had a wooden structure! This church was dedicated to St. Bartholomew. Fast forward a bit, and in 1506, the Portuguese viceroy, Francisco de Almeida, got permission from the Raja of Cochin to give the church a makeover. Now, instead of wooden walls, it was reconstructed with sturdy stone and masonry. Talk about an upgrade!
But here's where things twist and turn like a Bollywood dance scene. The Dutch swooped in and captured Kochi in 1663. Now, while the Portuguese were Roman Catholics, the Dutch government and colonialists were Protestant. They weren't too keen on these churches, but guess what? They decided to spare this one! Yep, they demolished all the other churches in the area, but our beloved Church of Saint Francis survived the chopping block. The Dutch weren't heartless, though. They reconditioned the church and turned it into a government church.
And that, my friend, is the roller coaster history of the Church of Saint Francis, Kochi. So, let's take a moment to appreciate this remarkable piece of history, and if you're feeling adventurous, we can move on to the next stop on our exciting tour of Kochi!
