Igreja Santo Antônio, Porto Alegre

Santo Antônio Church is a Catholic temple located in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, at Rua Luís de Camões 35.

The ParishThe Parish of Saint Anthony of the Parthenon, as it is known, was born around a small chapel dedicated to the saint, created by an Episcopal provision on June 9, 1875. The land was part of the property of the old Literary Partenon Society, a meeting place for intellectuals from Porto Alegre in the second half of the 19th century. The little chapel had its cornerstone laid on May 16, 1876, being inaugurated on Christmas Eve 1881. On January 6 of the following year, the image of the patron saint was transferred with parties and procession from the Cathedral to its new home.

On August 30, 1911 the parish was created, linked to the Capuchin convent, and the first pastor was Friar Bernardin d'Apremont. Shortly thereafter, in 1928, the chapel was demolished to make way for a larger temple.

The current churchThe project was designed by Henri-Victor Denarté, while Mathäus Germann Desiderius Casagrande, known as Matthew Casagrande, carried out the work, which began on July 17, 1928, and was completed in 1934.

Its style is eclectic, without being historicist, although some Romanesque traces can be seen on the facade. It is located in front of a small square, and access is via a small staircase. The facade, clad in sandstone imitation stone, develops in a horizontal rectangle divided into three blocks. The sides show a large window with a round arch, and the central block has a large frontispiece around the entrance, also with a round arch, flanked by two columns and a frieze, and is protected by an external barred door. Above the frontispiece rises the bell tower of square section divided into four levels, with prominent corners and crowned by a metal cross.

After passing through a small atrium under the choir, one enters the interior. The plan has the design of a Latin cross, with three naves, a dome over the transept, and an apse chancel. Its interior is quite unadorned, but its architectural proportions are harmonious and ample, making a pleasant impact. However, noteworthy are the series of stained glass windows manufactured in France illustrating scenes from the life of St. Anthony, the altarpiece in the chancel, an interesting piece of wood carving in neo-Gothic style, albeit of modest proportions, and some statuary of considerable artistic value in secondary chapels.

Among the images is a large statue of Our Lady of Peace holding a banner in her right hand with the inscription Nsa. It is a work of great beauty due to the rich plasticity of the folds of the mantle and the elegant posture and benevolent expression of the faces.

Another important image is that of St. Francis, of pathetic expressiveness, traditionally attributed to the Jesuits of Paraguay and brought to Rio Grande after the Paraguayan War. Finally, the image of St. Anthony in the left chapel of the transept also stands out, an unusual-looking specimen by the almost naïve vivacity of the expression of the saint and of the Child he carries on a book, both dressed in cloth vestments.

Another attraction is the tomb of Friar Antonio de Caxias, a well-known figure in the parish for his benevolence and apostolic zeal, to whom many cures and blessings are attributed, and where countless ex-votos are deposited for graces obtained through him.