Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua

About this place

The Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is a Catholic church and minor basilica in Padua, Veneto, Northern Italy, dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. The shrine is designated a Basilica by the privilege of immemorial status. The shrine is not the cathedral of the city, which is designated to the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Mary of Padua. The basilica is known locally as "il Santo" and is one of the national shrines recognized by the Holy See. Two chapels within the basilica - the Cappella di San Giacomo and the Cappella del Beato Luca Belludi - are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Padua's fourteenth-century fresco cycles, inscribed in 2021. As you explore, compare the building itself with its decoration and later additions. Differences in materials, forms and imagery can reveal successive periods of patronage, making the visit a way to understand how religious places evolved over time.