Església de Sant Antoni de Pàdua de Tarragona

Església de Sant Antoni de Pàdua is a Capuchin monastery church on Rambla Nova, one of Tarragona's main boulevards. The church, together with its adjoining friary and religious residence, forms a small complex right in the city centre, a short walk from the Balcó del Mediterrani viewpoint.

How do you get there?

The church stands at Rambla Nova 105, on the same boulevard that most visitors to Tarragona already walk along — it connects the old town, Part Alta, with its cathedral and Roman walls, to the seafront balcony. From Tarragona's main railway station it's a straight walk, no city transport needed. The nearest bus stops are a short distance further along the Rambla.

What will you see?

The current building is the result of several construction phases. The Capuchins returned to Tarragona in 1907, when they were granted land on Rambla Nova. Construction of a new friary began in 1929 and was partially inaugurated in 1931, dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua — hence the church's name. The Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) interrupted the order's activity: the building was seized and the community scattered. After returning in 1939, the Capuchins rebuilt the friary and kept a continuous community there until 2007.

The complex grew over the decades — besides the church, it includes a school and a religious residence with shared facilities. Part of the residence building, designed by architect Francesc Albin, dates from 1970 onward, which explains the visible contrast in style between the older, pre-war section and the newer wings.

In 2015, after the previous Capuchin community had relocated to Barcelona and the church stood empty, a Brazilian Capuchin community took charge of it at the invitation of Archbishop Jaume Pujol of Tarragona. Thanks to that, the church remains an active parish within the Archdiocese of Tarragona, with regular Mass and services.

For visitors, the interest here lies more in the history — an order that survived war, decline, and revival through an incoming foreign community — than in dramatic architecture. This is a working parish church, not a museum piece, so it's worth keeping visits low-key, especially during service hours.

When should you visit?

Since this is a functioning parish, plan your visit around service hours rather than typical sightseeing schedules — it's worth checking current Mass times beforehand, for example by phone or through the archdiocese's website. Because Rambla Nova is one of the city's main thoroughfares, the church fits easily into a longer walk through central Tarragona at any time of year.

Frequently asked questions

Is Església de Sant Antoni de Pàdua a monument open for sightseeing like the cathedral? No — it's an active parish church run by a Capuchin community, not a museum or an official monument with fixed visiting hours. Entry is mainly tied to religious services.

Where does the church's name come from? It was dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua when the friary was partially inaugurated in 1931, after the Capuchins had received land on Rambla Nova back in 1907.

Which community runs the church today? Since 2015 the church has been in the care of a Brazilian Capuchin community, invited by Archbishop Jaume Pujol of Tarragona after the previous friars moved on to Barcelona.

Is this church worth seeing on a short trip to Tarragona? If your time is limited, prioritise the cathedral and Roman walls in Part Alta. This church is more of a worthwhile stop along Rambla Nova for anyone interested in the history of local religious communities.