Church of St. Anthony of Padua, Roman Catholic church in Beyoğlu district, Istanbul, Turkey
The Church of St. Anthony of Padua is a Gothic Revival building of red brick along İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu. Pointed arches frame doors and windows with coloured glass, while a narrow tower rises above the façade with crenellations and small pinnacles.
Giulio Mongeri designed the structure in 1906 to replace an earlier timber building from the first half of the 18th century. The new structure followed the growth of the Italian-speaking Catholic population in the late Ottoman Empire.
Italian, Polish, and Turkish worshippers gather for services in several languages. The choir performs pieces from European repertoires and catechism classes connect Mediterranean and Ottoman traditions.
The building stands on İstiklal Avenue near Galata Bridge and opens daily for visitors outside service times. Modest clothing and low voices are expected when entering.
Angelo Roncalli, later Pope John XXIII, managed the papal office here for ten years before his appointment as cardinal. His connection to the city later earned him the nickname Turkish Pope.
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