Audio GuideChurch of Saint Anthony of Padua

St. Antuan Kilisesi, known in English as the Church of St. Anthony of Padua, is the largest Catholic church in Istanbul. It is prominently situated on Istiklal Avenue, in the lively neighbourhood of Beyoğlu. The church’s impressive red-brick façade stands behind an elegant arched entrance, set slightly back from the bustling pedestrian street. Those who step through the gateway find themselves in a tranquil courtyard, surrounded by red-brick apartment buildings echoing the church’s neo-Gothic style.

FURKAN BARLAS

The story of St. Antuan dates back almost eight hundred years, to when Franciscan monks first arrived in what was then Constantinople. The city’s earliest major Catholic church was built in the Galata district in the thirteen twenties, dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. After many centuries and several destructive fires, the local Catholic community—including Italian and French residents—established a new church in Beyoğlu in the early seventeen hundreds. Over time, this church was rebuilt: once after it was damaged by fire, and again at the start of the twentieth century, as Istanbul was modernised and tram lines were laid.

Eren kang

The present building was completed more than one hundred years ago, in nineteen twelve, designed by the architect Giulio Mongeri, a member of Istanbul’s Italian community. Its neo-Gothic design, influenced by Venetian style, features pointed arches, stained-glass rose windows, sturdy red-brick walls, and intricate mosaics. The Latin cross-shaped floor plan measures almost twenty metres across at its widest point and extends more than sixty metres in length, leading the eye towards the sanctuary’s colourful frescoes and tall windows that flood the interior with light. Outside, a statue commemorates Pope John the Twenty-third, who often visited the church while he served in Istanbul, before later becoming pope.

Cihan Kacar

Inside the lofty building, St. Antuan has brought together worshippers from many communities—Italians, Poles, Turks, and English speakers—all welcomed by the Franciscan clergy. Mass is celebrated weekly in various languages, reflecting the church’s diverse past and Istanbul’s cosmopolitan character. Ornate mosaic tiles and sacred statues line the aisles, and on feast days, the church comes alive with music and the soft murmur of prayer echoing beneath its vaulted ceiling.

Through centuries marked by fires, relocations, shifting borders, and changing communities, St. Antuan has remained a lasting site of worship and belonging. Today, it stands not only as a place for prayer and quiet reflection, but also as a cherished landmark—a meeting point where East and West come together in the heart of the city.

Blending history, art, and an active congregation, the church continues to enchant visitors with the living story of Istanbul’s many cultures, always just a step away from the lively crowds outside on the avenue.