This is the place the Portuguese were looking for when they stumbled onto Brazil. Small wonder they were confused. The lush vegetation, abundant spices, golden beaches and vivid blossoms might be on either continent. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, which holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier, and the Sé cathedral comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and both the old city and the nearby town of Panjim hold colonial-era buildings and pleasant plazas that will attract you almost as much as the broad, silky beaches.