About
During World War I, Padua's residents pledged to build this church if the city was spared destruction.
After the Battle of Caporetto in 1917 during World War I, Austro-Hungarian troops quickly invaded northeastern Italy. They posed a menacing threat to the large cities in Veneto, such as Venice, Verona, Vicenza, and Padua. The people of Padua made a vow that they would build a new church for their patron, Saint Anthony, if the battlefront stopped short of reaching the city. Fortunately for the Paduans, the war remained on the Asiago Plateau just a few kilometers from the city. Plans for a new church were underway and the first stone was laid in 1920. Construction was briefly halted due to a lack of funds but was completed in 1934 thanks to some financial help from the central government. However, this aid came with one condition: the church had to serve as an ossuary for those who perished during the war. In 1943 during a bombardment, the church was heavily damaged. It was repaired and reopened in 1949.
