Church of St. Anthony of Padua: the great Catholic church of İstiklal

Updated on October 4, 2026

Halfway between Galatasaray Square and Tünel, an archway cut into a building on İstiklal Avenue leads to a courtyard and then to a red-brick façade: this is the Church of St. Anthony of Padua (Sent Antuan Kilisesi), the largest Catholic church in Istanbul. Run by the Conventual Franciscans, it replaces a church built in 1724 that was demolished to make way for the new tram line along the Grande Rue de Péra. The present Neo-Gothic building was designed by Giulio Mongeri and Edoardo De Nari; the foundations were laid in 1906 and the church opened for worship on 15 February 1912. Pope Pius XI raised it to the rank of basilica in 1932. Entry is free and the church remains an active place of worship: allow 20 to 30 minutes for a visit.

Highlights

The courtyard façade

Set back from the avenue, the façade alternates red brick with bands of pale stone, with a large rose window above the portal. According to the parish, it draws on the Tuscan and Lombard Gothic of the 14th century. The courtyard, framed by two apartment buildings, gives you a quiet spot to photograph it away from the İstiklal crowds.

The nave and its stained glass

The Latin-cross interior runs 50 metres from the apse to the entrance door, under blue-painted vaults rising to 23 metres. Slender piers and colourful stained-glass windows fill the nave with soft light during the day. To the left of the altar hangs a copy of Raphael's Saint Cecilia, painted in 1867 by Giuseppe Cartapin.

The statue of John XXIII

In the courtyard, a bronze statue honours Angelo Roncalli, apostolic delegate to Turkey from 1935 to 1944, who regularly preached in this church before becoming Pope John XXIII. He is still known in Turkey as the "Turkish Pope". In 1940, in the middle of the war, he read a prayer here for the protection of Turkey on St Anthony's day.

The crypt and Masses in several languages

Beneath the nave lies a Romanesque-style crypt, the same size as the upper church, where the Sunday Mass in Polish is celebrated. Masses are said in English, Italian, Polish and Turkish, reflecting a very diverse Catholic community. According to the parish, Pope Paul VI celebrated here in 1967 the first Mass said by a pope on Turkish soil.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Entry is free. You can visit freely during opening hours, but stay discreet during Mass: avoid walking in or taking photos in the middle of a service, and do not move around the nave. Respectful dress is expected: shoulders and knees covered, hats off for men, phone on silent. To attend Mass, here is the schedule published by the parish: on weekdays, Mass in English at 08:00 Monday to Saturday and Mass in Turkish at 19:00 Tuesday to Friday; on Tuesdays, an extra Mass in Turkish at 11:30, with hymns and organ; on Saturdays at 19:00, Mass in English and Italian. On Sundays, Mass in English at 10:00, in Italian and in Polish at 11:30 (the latter in the crypt) and in Turkish at 19:00, or at 18:00 in the winter period. For Holy Week and Christmas, the parish publishes a separate programme. To place the church among the city's other places of worship, see our guide to churches and synagogues in Istanbul. Information as observed in October 2026.

How to get there

İstiklal Caddesi 171, 34433 Beyoğlu, Istanbul, between Galatasaray Square and Tünel; the entrance is through the archway on the avenue. Metro M2, Şişhane station, Tünel-side exit, then about a 10-minute walk up İstiklal. From Karaköy, the Tünel funicular climbs to Tünel Square, about a 5-minute walk away. The T2 nostalgic tram, between Tünel and Taksim, passes in front of the church; from Taksim Square, allow about 15 minutes on foot.