Church of St. Anthony of Padua

Overview

The Church of St. Anthony of Padua is Istanbul's largest Roman Catholic church—a striking red-brick Neo-Gothic building on İstiklal Avenue, serving the city's Italian, French and Levantine communities since 1912.

Highlights

• Neo-Gothic façade: Twin spires and pointed arches in red Venetian brick stand out against İstiklal's Neoclassical neighbours.
• Stained glass: Belgian-crafted windows imported in the early 20th century.
• Active parish: A functioning multilingual parish with masses in English, Italian and Turkish.

History

The current church replaced an earlier 1724 chapel. Italian friars have maintained a continuous presence on this site since the early 18th century.

Visitor Tips

• Tip: Slip in between İstiklal Avenue shopping for a moment of quiet. Open throughout the day.
• Duration: 15–25 minutes.