Padua, Italy
Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua
One of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Italy, housing the tomb and relics of the beloved Franciscan saint.
The Paduans just call it 'il Santo' — the Saint — as if no other church needs a name. The basilica sprawls across a wide piazza, its cluster of Byzantine domes and Romanesque-Gothic towers giving it a silhouette unlike anything else in northern Italy. Inside, the Chapel of the Ark holds Anthony's tomb in a large marble monument, and the line of pilgrims waiting to press a hand against the stone never really stops. Some whisper prayers. Some just stand there, quiet. In a separate chapel, glass cases display relics that stop you short — Anthony's tongue and jawbone, incorrupt after eight centuries, the tongue of a preacher who could hold a crowd in the open air. Donatello's bronze reliefs and crucifix in the sanctuary are among his finest work. The cloisters outside are peaceful, full of birdsong and old brick. People come to Anthony when they've lost something — keys, direction, hope. The basilica feels like a place that has been found.
Diocese: Diocese of Padua
Style: Romanesque-Gothic with Byzantine elements
What to See
The Chapel of the Ark on the left side of the nave draws the longest lines — take your time at the tomb, and notice the marble reliefs depicting Anthony's miracles. The Chapel of the Relics behind the apse displays the incorrupt tongue and other relics in glass cases; it's arresting regardless of what you bring to it. Donatello's high altar bronzes repay careful looking — the crucifix and the narrative panels show the sculptor at full power. The cloisters, including the magnolia cloister, offer space to sit and think.
Pilgrim Notes
Padua is thirty minutes by train from Venice, making it an easy half-day or full-day visit. The basilica is free to enter and open daily. Mass is celebrated frequently in multiple languages. The Feast of St. Anthony on June 13th fills the city with processions and celebrations. Confession is available in several languages. The Franciscan friars who serve the basilica are welcoming and often available to talk. Combine your visit with a walk through the old town to see the Scrovegni Chapel's Giotto frescoes nearby.