Fort Kochi is the heart of historic Kochi — a small peninsula with Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial architecture layered over centuries. The Chinese Fishing Nets along the waterfront are the most photographed sight in Kerala, best seen at dawn when they are actually being worked.
Mattancherry Palace contains some of the finest Hindu mural painting in India, covering the walls of three rooms with scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata in vivid detail. Nearby, the Paradesi Synagogue in the old Jewish quarter (Jew Town) is one of the oldest synagogues in the Commonwealth, still in use by the tiny remaining Jewish community.
The Church of Saint Francis is historically significant as the site of Vasco da Gama's original burial before his remains were moved to Lisbon. The Indo-Portuguese Museum covers the Catholic heritage of the region in depth.
The Kochi-Muziris Biennale, held every two years (December to March), is Asia's largest contemporary art festival and has transformed Fort Kochi into a significant arts destination.