Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in Vasai wins UNESCO Award of Merit 2025

Key facts

• The 475-year-old Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in Vasai, Maharashtra, received the Award of Merit at the 2025 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
• The restoration project, executed by conservation architect Ainsley Lewis between 2023 and 2024, cost approximately Rs 4.5 crore and was funded by the local community.
• The cathedral is a 16th-century stone structure built using mud instead of cement, representing the architectural legacy of Portuguese colonial architecture in India.
• The 2025 edition marked the silver jubilee of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards, with winners selected from 90 entries across 16 countries.
• The highest Award of Distinction was shared by the Iwami Ginzan Library Conservation Project in Japan and the Sihang Warehouse Conservation Project in China.