Church of Our Lady of Health (Velankany)

Nagappattinam [Negapatão], Tamil Nadu, India

Religious Architecture

According to contemporary documents, Nagappattinam had five churches in its urban fabric and two in the suburbs at the beginning of the 17th century. One of the latter was the church of Our Lady of Good Health at Velankany, which is a building of monumental proportions today. A place of pilgrimage for the Parava community dispersed around the world, its religious importance determined a radical transformation from the original Portuguese construction to a basilica of neo-Gothic lines.

• Helder Carita