basilica di sant’antonio - basilica del santo

Stunning place to visit, especially if you are a religious person. Inside, the church is beautiful, really can't explain in words the felling you have inside. The church service is so touching, and if you visit you will se people from all over Europe that come to pray in this church. It is believed that if you pray to San Atonio of Padova's relics, he will grant your wish, he is known as a healer. He loved especially kids and poor people. A lot of people pray at his relieves for there children's and family's health, if you enter the church, near the relics, people leave photos of loved ones, whose prayers were answered and fulfilledA special mention, in the basilicas garden there is a huge magnolia tree, honestly the biggest I have ever seen. If you visit and want to go in, be sure your shoulders are covered, and if you have a skirt, to be at least to your knees.

Definitely check out this church, as it's free and there's a lot to see. If you're into the macabre, the relics are a treat – there's a whole case full of Anthony's body parts (this totally freaked out my Jewish friend, who hadn't seen a relic before). If you want to see an ancient preserved tongue, this is the place.All jokes aside, though, this is a beautiful place that brings in scores of pilgrims. It's impressive inside and out.

The very friendly and helpful staff member in the local tourist office recommended we visit the Basilica and we were so glad that we had made the effort in spite of the fact that we were almost at the end of our one day in Padua. Very impressed at the size of the Basilica and once inside, it did not disappoint. I agree with another reviewer that there was a sense of spirituality especially at the tomb of St. Anthony where there were queues of worshipers paying their respects. It was a delight to spend time in this truly impressive Basilica.

The Basilica is massive and very impressive. It contains the remains of miracle-worker Saint Anthony which attracts pilgrims and a multitude of locals. The cloisters of the basilica are pleasant and tranquil.

Happened upon this, one of many churches, in passing. Glad I made the effort to go in. As a self confessed non religious person, I found this church had a strange sense of, dare I say spirituality. Try it and see if you have a similar experience. For the more religiously minded the church houses the tomb of St. Anthony.

The church is unbelievably beautiful, the grounds are very well maintained. I was there during the Christmas holiday and the nativity was beyond anything I have ever seen.

I'll invite you all to pay special attention to the symbols, Angels and of course the body pieces of the Saint. There is a place where you can watch a movie of Sai t Anthony's life and death.The building is amazing and guys, I promise you, wether you are religious or not, you will enjoy the tour!

Besides St. Anthony's remains, the inside of the cathedral has many beautiful frescoes to admire and they also run an orphanage, so donate when there, the reason I really went.

It's a beautiful church- not sure how to rate it. You are not allowed to take pictures inside. But are welcome to walk around inside and attend a mass if so desired. There are vendors all around the outside offering religious items for purchase.

Magical, spiritual experience! This is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen! You can also visit St. Antonio's tomb which is extremely touching, since they have placed a message board near the tomb where people who dedicated their prayers to St. Antonio may leave notes (at least this was the case some years ago). Most of them were thankful and humble messages with a lot of pictures from all the different people who visited the tomb or pray to St. Antonio (it can get very intense because there are some pictures of sick pepole/children whose relatives pray for their recovery).

I love cathedrals and old churches in general, but there was something about this one that really didn't inspire me. The design from outside is pretty odd and not particularly attractive. Inside is dark and gloomy without being uplifting. There are a few interesting elements however to keep you engaged for a short while.St Anthony's tomb and the surrounding marble chapel is quite striking and the bas relief carvings are pretty stunning and frankly quite entertaining - St Anthony reviving a baby that had been boiled to death in a cauldron, St Anthony re-fixing a severed foot onto a youth, St Anthony bringing back to life a woman who's jealous husband had just stabbed her. They are top quality sculptures. There are also lots of photos in that part of the chapel from pilgrims who presumably believe that he can help their loved ones if they leave photos of them there or where they have prayed for his help.The other 'highlight' of the basilica that makes interesting viewing, is the highly ornate chapel full of golden treasures, in which the chruch keep 'relics' of St Anthony - it is claimed when his coffin was opened 30 or so years after his death, that his body had all turned to dust except for his vocal cords, tongue and chin. So those three things are now set in golden ornaments and on display for us to see in the chapel. It's most odd. There are also a few of his old vestments on display there. The ostentatious display of jewels and treasures is rather at odds with the stories of the life of Jesus of Nazareth that I recall from my childhood. So whilst I absolutely loved the Scrovegni Chapel, the baptistry of the Duomo and the Palace of Justice, I was rather underwhlemed by this basilica, despite the highlights mentioned above. Still, it is a lot more interesting than the dreary Duomo in Padua, so it rates a three star review from me.

A very pretty huge church in and out. We went to pay respect to St Anthony's Tomb inside the church. The whole city is beautiful. Lots of history. Lots of history. Univ of Padua where Galileo taught. Unesco Botanical Garden. There's also the beautiful Scovengi chapel. Transpo around is easy.

The basilica is unique. Don't miss the reliquie. We heard a beautiful concert in honor of the saint.

A huge, magnificent basilica! I can't believe, after all these years of hearing about it, that I've now actually been there! Very humbling & powerfully moving to touch the tomb of St. Anthony. Make sure, after your "touching moment" to view the amazing sculpted plaques that are on the walls of the chapel/niche surrounding the tomb. These plaques depict important episodes in Anthony's life, easily overlooked; but, major-ly beautiful, as is the entire Basilica!

When you visit Padua, this Basilica is a place which you will not want to miss - even for a few minutes...It is a haven on earth for me as I have acquired a personal devotion to St Anthony of Padua -On that late afternoon on 16 June 2010, when I took my first steps into the Santo (as the locals would call this Basilica) - I was deeply amazed and awestruck!I was so deeply impressed and spiritually edified by this Basilica that I changed my plans to visit Venice - I made a "beeline" visit to Venice and chose to stay for the next 3 days inside this beautiful Basilica - just to be with God and with St Anthony of Padua.what is the charm and what keeps so many pilgrims to come and stay in this Spiritual Clinic in Padua?well, when you go to Italy - do make a trip to Padua - to visit this place where St Anthony died and who knows, you may experience God in a personal way in this very unique Basilica of St Anthony.... you need to go and experience this lovely spirit of Padua and of St Anthony for yourself...for me, it was almost 5 years ago since I had visited Padua - I did something unsual - I chose to stay in Padua for 3 nights and 4 days. and it's a stay in a special town that I will remember for the rest of my life!Besides the Basilica of St Anthony, there are several other very interesting places to visit in Padua... perhaps you may read about them in my next review?