Turkish Name: Saint Antonio Kilisesi
Saint Antonio Church is located on Istiklal Avenue after GalataSaray Square , in the Beyoglu district . It is considered among the most important Catholic churches in
Istanbul
and has the largest community . The original church was built in 1725 by the local Italian community of Istanbul . The original building was demolished and on its site standing the current S . Antonio di Padova , along with its adjacent buildings (known as the St . Antoine Apartmanlari) . The new structure was built between 1906 and 1912 in the Venetian Neo-Gothic style which was designed by the Istanbulite Levantino Italian architect Giulio Mongeri who is also the designer of some other important structures in Istanbul like Macka Palas in Nisantasi , the Neo-Byzantine style Karakoy Palas , and also the first headquarters of Turkiye Is Bankasi in Ankara . The church is now administrated by Italian priests .
There are mosaic boards over three entrance doors in which are depicted St . Antonio with Virgin Mary , Infant
Jesus
and Sr . Francesco . The area of the church measures 20m by 50m and has a plan of Latin cross . The building is divided into three naves covered with squinches and separated by thick buttresses . There are stained glass windows
on the east , south and north facades that lighten up the church . There is a sculpture of (Jesus on the cross) and a timber and gold leaved sculpture of St . Antonio that was made by Luigi Breciani . Two mosaic boards in the side abscissas are depicting Baptism and Supper scenes . The buttresses that form the bearing system of the structure are connected to each other with sharp archways , they also have caps decorated with large leaf patterns .
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