The first stone in the construction of the basilica was laid in 1594 and after 11 years of work came to an end. This grandiose and in today's times building was erected with the money of a wealthy nobleman from laterite stone, which is so numerous in Goa. Now the basilica is the most visited church in Goa. Protected by UNESCO.

The basilica is 56 meters long, 17 meters wide and 19 meters high. Initially, it was covered with plaster, which was removed in 1951. Since then, the salty breeze from the sea has been destroying the stone. Although the basilica is dedicated to Jesus Christ, it is interesting that in the center of the altar stands a 3-meter statue of Ignatius de Loyla, the founder of the Jesuit Society. He stands in a pose of ecstasy and looks like a Hindu. Above the I.H.S. depicts the Holy Trinity. On a small pedestal, at the feet of the statue of Loyla, there is a statue of the little Christ.
In 1655 a chapel was built to the right of the main altar. It houses a marble mausoleum in mixed Indian and Italian styles. It appeared in 1698 after 10 years of work by the Florentine master Giovanni Battista Fogini. And the Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III ordered the mausoleum, thus making a gift to the basilica and the faithful. At the foot of the mausoleum there are 4 bronze bas-reliefs with scenes from the life of Francis Xavier. On the 4-meter top of the mausoleum there is a silver casket inlaid with gems. Inside the casket, you can see an urn made of crystal. In 1955, the relics of St. Francis Xavier were placed here, which had previously been kept in a wooden urn. There are three keys to the urn with relics: the first is in the possession of the archbishop of Goa, the second is in the possession of the governor, and the third is in the possession of the rector of the monastery.