Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, Bologna, Italy

The figure of Saint Anthony of Padua holds a deep connection with the city of Bologna, as it was here that he spent the final years of his life teaching theology and preaching. Between 1222 and 1224, Saint Anthony was sent to the Studium of Bologna to combat heresies through his sermons. During this period, he stayed at the Convent of San Paolo in Monte, a part of the Franciscan Observance, where there was a small chapel dedicated to Saint Paul the Hermit. Here, he would often pray.

Saint Anthony became the first teacher of theology for the Friars Minor, and his influence extended to the foundational teachings of the Franciscan Order. Saint Francis himself sent a letter to Anthony, addressing him as “my bishop” and encouraging him to teach sacred theology to the friars, as long as the spirit of holy prayer and devotion remained intact, as outlined in the Rule of the Order. This message, written by Saint Francis, is also commemorated on a plaque on the facade of the Sanctuary of Saint Anthony.

Construction of the Church and Convent

While the figure of Saint Anthony was well established in Bologna, the construction of the church dedicated to him would occur much later. The Franciscan Order had owned several convents in Bologna, including the convent of the Church of Santissima Annunziata at Porta Procula (now Porta San Mamolo), which was part of the Minor Observants. After the Napoleonic and Savoyard confiscations in the 19th century, religious orders were suppressed in Bologna, and their convents were confiscated. The friars’ attempts to regain control of the Santissima Annunziata convent were unsuccessful, leading them to seek an alternative location for a new convent.

In the late 19th century, the friars decided to build a new convent dedicated to Saint Anthony to honor his stay in the city. They selected a location between Porta Maggiore and Porta Santo Stefano, the site of the ancient “Foro Boario.” Construction was swift, and the convent was inaugurated on May 3, 1899.

Construction of the Church

The first stone of the church itself was laid on September 3, 1903, under the design of the engineer Carlo Barbieri. Like the convent, the construction of the church proceeded rapidly. By October 17, 1904, the church was consecrated by Monsignor Luigi Canali, a Franciscan bishop. A date commemorating this event is embedded in the pavement in front of the church’s portal.

Proclamation as the Antonian Sanctuary

The significance of the complex grew over the years. On June 13, 1930, the Feast of Saint Anthony, the Archbishop of Bologna, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Nasalli Rocca, solemnly proclaimed the site as the “Antonian Sanctuary,” cementing its importance as a religious and spiritual center in Bologna.