2/30.- Fort Kochi, Santa Cruz Basilica

Santa Cruz, in the center of Fort Kochi, is one of the eight Catholic basilicas in India. The building was originally built soon after the Portuguese first arrived to Kochi, in 1505.

Santa Cruz was used as an armory during the Dutch occupation in the 17th century, and later destroyed by the British in the 18th century. The cathedral would not be rebuilt until the beginning of the 20th century. One century later, in 2004, John Paul II raised the status of Santa Cruz to Basilica.

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