Audio GuideChurch of Saint Anthony of Padua

St. Antuan Kilisesi, or the Church of St. Anthony of Padua, stands as the largest Catholic church in Istanbul, right along the lively Istiklal Avenue in the Beyoğlu neighborhood. Its striking red-brick facade rises behind an elegant arched gateway, set back from the city’s busy pedestrian street. Visitors step through the gate into a peaceful courtyard edged by matching red-brick apartment buildings, their neo-Gothic features reflecting the church’s style.

FURKAN BARLAS

The roots of St. Antuan go back nearly eight centuries, beginning when Franciscan monks arrived in the city then known as Constantinople. The area’s first major Catholic church was built in the Galata district in the thirteen twenties, dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. After centuries and several devastating fires, the local Catholic community, mostly Italian and French, constructed a new home in Beyoğlu in the early seventeen hundreds. Over time, this church was replaced—once when fire struck, and again in the early twentieth century as the city modernized and new tram lines were built.

Eren kang

Today’s impressive building was completed over a century ago, in the year nineteen twelve, by architect Giulio Mongeri, who belonged to Istanbul’s diverse Italian community. Its Venetian-inspired neo-Gothic design includes pointed arches, stained-glass rose windows, sturdy red brick walls, and decorative mosaics. The Latin cruciform floor plan stretches nearly two dozen meters wide and more than five dozen meters long, drawing the eye toward the sanctuary’s glowing frescoes and tall, sunlit windows. Outside, a statue honors Pope John the Twenty-third, once a regular presence in the church when he served in Istanbul before becoming pope.

Cihan Kacar

Within its soaring space, St. Antuan has brought together worshippers from many backgrounds—Italian, Polish, Turkish, and English speakers, all welcomed by Franciscan priests. Mass is held each week in several languages, reflecting both the church’s history and Istanbul’s multicultural heart. Colorful tile mosaics and sacred statues decorate the aisles, and during special occasions, the church fills with music and the murmur of prayers echoing beneath the vaulted ceiling.

Over centuries, St. Antuan has witnessed fires, relocation, changing borders, and generations of faithful. It remains not only a place of prayer and reflection, but also an important landmark and meeting point, bridging Eastern and Western traditions in the city.

With its mix of history, art, and living community, the church continues to inspire visitors with the story of Istanbul’s many cultures, always open just a few steps away from the bustle of the avenue outside.