General Information
Location:- Holy Hill, Old Goa, Panjim, Goa

In the Holy Hill, on the way to the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary , is a huge three-storeyed building of laterite which was originally lime-plastered but is now plastered with cement. It is square on plan with a large inner courtyard, around which is a cloistered verandah and numerous cells and halls. The vaulted ceilings in some of the halls are tastefully painted with floral decorations and scenes from the Holy bible.

The construction of the convent and the church of St. Monica was commenced in 1606 and completed in 1627. The building was destroyed in a fire in 1636 and re-built the following year

The Convent Or The Royal Monastery
The convent is also referred to as the royal monastery on account of the royal patronage it enjoyed. There were eleven chapels in the convent apart from the novitiate and the seminary for girls. The church in the monastery is dedicated to St. Mary. At present the building houses the Mater dei Institute for nuns, which was inaugurated in 1964.