Santa Cruz Basilica is a Roman Catholic church located near the St Francis Church in Fort Kochi, around 13 km from Ernakulam. The gothic style and the noble spires give the church a unique appearance. Frescoes and mural paintings adorn the ceiling and interior parts.
Santa Cruz was built originally by the Portuguese in 1503 and raised to a cathedral by Pope Paul 1V in 1558. The British demolished this structure in 1795. A century later, Bishop Dom Gomez Vereira commissioned a new building at the same site in 1887. Santa Cruz was declared a basilica by the Pope John Paul II in 1984.
The nearest railhead is Ernakulam Junction Railway Station, 13 km away. Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport.
