Concert Venues: Basilica of Saint Anthony

The Diocese of Evansville will sing High Mass and meet with the Franciscan Friars at the Basilica of Saint Anthony on Friday, September 24.

The Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, known locally as “il Santo,” lies in the city of Padua in northern Italy. Construction of the church began in 1232, just one year after the death of Saint Anthony, and finally reached completion in 1301. The “Cappella della Madonna Mora,” or Chapel of the Dark Madonna, where Saint Anthony is buried, was incorporated into the construction of the basilica.

The Basilica of Saint Anthony is a giant edifice without any precise architectural style. Throughout the centuries, periodical renovations have resulted in a variety of architectural influences which can be noted by the structure’s exterior details. The building’s many appendages range in styles from Romanesque and Gothic to Baroque and Byzantine. The sanctuary’s expansive domes, a likeness to those of Saint Mark’s Basilica, create an ideal source of rich and full musical acoustics.

The Basilica of Saint Anthony houses many unique works of art, including the relics of Saint Anthony, multiple frescoes, a bronze Madonna with Child and six statues of saints by Donatello. The eight-century-old church remains a stunning destination of Christian pilgrimage.

Photo courtesy of: www.basilicadelsanto.org