The Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Nuovo, located at the end of the Canal Grande in the heart of the Borgo Teresiano, is the main Catholic religious building in the center of Trieste and one of the greatest examples of neoclassical architecture in the city. Its name “Nuovo” distinguishes it from the older church of Sant’Antonio, later dedicated to the Beata Vergine del Soccorso.
Origins and development
Until the mid-18th century, a private chapel dedicated to the Annunciation stood on the current site, opened to the public thanks to Antonio Rossetti. The growing influx of the faithful soon made a larger building necessary.
- In 1771, a first Baroque church dedicated to Sant’Antonio di Padova was completed, but this too quickly proved insufficient for the rapidly growing population, favored by the development of the Borgo Teresiano and the “New City”.
- In 1808, a competition was announced for a new sacred building: the neoclassical project by the Swiss architect Pietro Nobile won, inspired by the grandeur of Roman monuments.
- However, due to technical and financial difficulties, work began only in 1825 (or 1828 according to some sources) and continued until 1849, the year of its consecration by Bishop Bartolomeo Legat.
- The church was built partly with Istria stone, reserved for the most significant architectural elements for economic reasons.
Architecture and works of art
The facade is dominated by a majestic pronaos with six Ionic columns and a wide pediment. On the attic, six statues rise, sculpted by Francesco Bosa in 1842, depicting the patron saints of Trieste: San Giusto, San Sergio, San Servolo, San Mauro, Sant’Eufemia e Santa Tecla. The plan is rectangular (about 80x28 meters) and the rear facade is surmounted by two twin bell towers.
The interior impresses with the solemnity of the twelve Ionic columns that mark the three naves, culminating in the large central dome. The apse houses a fresco by Sebastiano Santi (1836) depicting the “Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem”.
Six side altars, illuminated by large windows, house altarpieces by famous 19th-century artists:
- Michelangelo Grigoletti: Saint Anne and the Virgin
- Felice Schiavoni: Presentation in the Temple
- Johann Schönmann: Saint Joseph
- Odorico Politi: Saint Anthony
- Ludovico Lipparini: Martyrdom of Euphemia, Thecla, Erasmus and Dorothy
- Joseph Tunner: Crucifixion
In the Chapel of the Visitation, there is a painting attributed to Alessandro Longhi (1769).
Historical events and social role
The church was consecrated on November 15, 1849, in the midst of a cholera epidemic, as recalled by a plaque under the pronaos.
- It once reflected directly in the waters of the Canal Grande, until the filling in of the terminal section of the canal in 1934.
- During the 20th century, the church and the square in front were the scene of dramatic events:
- In 1902, during a strike, there were victims among the workers of the Austro Lloyd.
- In 1945 and in November 1953, during the tensions over the future of Trieste, the church was a place of refuge and clashes, remembered by commemorative plaques.
Curiosities and current affairs
Today, the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Nuovo is not only a place of worship, but also an identity symbol for the city, a reference point for the community and visitors. Its scenic position, neoclassical monumentality, and artistic richness make it one of the most beloved and photographed destinations in Trieste.