Anthony of Padua, the Catholic saint and patron of this Italian city, was a pious, virtuous and courageous man. His sincere, fiery, and piercing sermons appealed to the hearts of people and brought them back to the church. The following year after his death in 1231, the preacher was canonized, and the magnificent Basilica of Saint Anthony was built in his honor. The temple has survived to this day, being the largest religious institution in the city. Its size is no smaller than the Padua Cathedral.

The basilica stands on a place strongly associated with Anthony of Padua – right where he lived and received pilgrims from all over the world. By the way, the temple keeps up the ball rolling: it still receives the largest number of pilgrims among all the churches in the city.

It is impossible to say exactly who built this magnificent building and what is its architectural style. Throughout the time that the doors of the basilica have been open to parishioners, it has been repeatedly changed and rebuilt both outside and inside. The exterior of the building combines Byzantine, Islamic, and Romanesque architecture, while its interior is more Gothic and Baroque. This contrast of styles creates a fantastical and unique appearance that makes the basilica special among other medieval churches.

The interior of the basilica is decorated with numerous paintings and sculptures by Italian masters. The main altar is of particular value. Unfortunately, its original appearance has not been preserved. Nevertheless, it is the most beautiful place in the basilica, decorated with works by Donatello and other famous sculptors. Moreover, several chapels of the basilica are also considered its heritage, in both art and religion.

Visit the chapel of the "Black Madonna," which has an interesting story. The chapel belonged to the small old church of St. Mary, which gave rise to the construction of the present basilica. The fact is that the relics of the saint were buried right there. Over time, the church was integrated into the Basilica of Saint Anthony, and some of its surviving relics became the basis for the chapel of the "Black Madonna."