Discover St. Aloysius Chapel: A Mangalore Gem

Who says that we must visit the Sistine Chapel in Rome to see a church’s beauty and splendour? Or, feel the peace and divinity emanating from its walls? Now, we have our very own Sistine Chapel in Mangalore (Mangaluru), the St. Aloysius Chapel.

Located right in the middle of the city in all its glory, it was built in 1885 by Reverend Father Joseph Willy. It is located at the top of Light House Hill on the campus of St. Aloysius College. The location offers a picturesque view of the Arabian Sea.

Visitors from over 63 countries come to honour this sacred and cultural venue.

St. Aloysius Church, Mangalore. Photographer Haydn Blackey

Quick Facts about St. Aloysius Chapel

Period built: 1878
Timing: 7:00 AM to 7.00 PM Every Day
Entry Fee: NA
Still Photography: Allowed
Video Camera: Allowed
Visit Duration: About 1hour
Address : P B No 720, Kodailbail, Dakshin Kannada, Hampankatta, Mangaluru – 575003 (Map)
Phone: +91 824 244 9721

The perfect tourist spot

The Aloysius Chapel is considered a world-class tourist destination, with amazing architecture, extraordinary layouts, and a well-thought-out execution that is unmatched. Come and be at one with God and the beauty of his creation, and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the atmosphere. You will go back rejuvenated and relaxed.

History of St. Aloysius Chapel, Mangaluru

The Mangalore Mission began in 1878, and the chapel was built as part of it. Focusing on the health, education, and social well-being of the Catholic Community of the city, the Italian Jesuits built St. Aloysius College in 1880 and the chapel a few years later. The chapel is dedicated to a wealthy and successful young man, St. Aloysius Gonzaga. He gave up his worldly pleasures to serve the destitute.

Architecture of St. Aloysius Chapel, Mangalore

The chapel is an architectural wonder with a beautiful ceiling, fresco and oil paintings. The chapel stands head-to-head with the beautiful chapels of Rome, its walls and roof. Although many years old, these paintings are maintained and restored regularly as they are historical artefacts.

The magnificent paintings at St. Aloysius Chapel, Mangaluru

The paintings are the work and passion of a famous Italian Jesuit painter, Antonio Moscheni. The pictures have been painstakingly worked upon to pay homage to St. Aloysius Gonzaga. Other paintings are dedicated to the Apostles, Jesus’ life, and various Church and Jesuit saints.

Panel paintings

The panel is dedicated entirely to Aloysius. He had everything that any man would desire at his age – power, wealth, and influence that he gave up for the betterment of society. The first three panels show his early days.

As a child, he dedicated his life to the Altar of Mary in Florence.
Preaching to his townpeople about God
Seeking admission to the Jesuit order
His first communion

Ceiling paintings

The rest of Aloysius’ life is depicted in the wall above the altar. The centre picture shows him serving the plague-stricken community in Rome, a disease he too contracted and led to his death at the age of 23. The sloping ceilings have paintings of the Apostles, with garlands weaving through multiple panels. The garlands are unique as the same flowers are not used while making garlands. The angels holding the garlands are life-size.

The upper arches of the chapel display the saints of the Church, whilst the lower arches are adorned with the following Jesuit saints:

The Apostle of India, St. Thomas, with a spear in his hand
The Patron of Environmentalists, St. Francis of Assisi
The Apostles of the Afro-American race, St. Peter Claver. The picture is on the fourth left arch. The St. helped the slaves when they arrived in Cartagena
Rudolf Aquaviva, who had been held in high esteem when he visited the courts of Emperor Akbar.
John De Britto was a scholar who studied Tamil, Sanskrit, and Indian customs. He was the first missionary to wear the sanyasi garb.

The rear wall paintings

The rear wall paintings depict Jesus as the children’s friend and are considered Moscheni’s masterpiece. Other paintings that make up the life of Jesus include:

The birth of Jesus on Christmas night
John the Baptist, baptizing baby Jesus
The Feast at Cana shows Jesus changing the water into wine
The crucifixion of Christ.

How to reach St. Aloysius Chapel, Mangalore

The city of Mangalore is well connected, and the chapel is easily accessible by air, road, and rail.

By Air

The nearest airport to St. Aloysius Chapel is Mangalore Airport, about 11km away.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is Mangalore Junction, 600m from the chapel.

By Rod

The chapel is easily accessible by bus, cab, and car. The chapel is located about 2.3 km from the main KSRTC bus station. Mangalore is 352 km from Bangalore and 256 km from Mysore.