The Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, dating back to at least the 12th century, is one of the oldest medieval, architectural and religious testimonies of the city of Montagnana.
The sacred site was governed by a community of Antonite monks, who dedicated themselves to welcoming pilgrims and caring for the sick. Also famous are the traces probably left by the Knights Templar, such as the acronym S.A.T.O.R. on a stone walled up outside the building, the Templar cross that stands out on one of the two weather vanes, and inside the holy water font in the shape of an inverted Crusader helmet.
The building is also of extreme interest for its astronomical orientation: from December to January - and therefore also on the occasion of January 17, the day in which the saint dedicated to the small oratory is celebrated - the rays of the sun, in the early afternoon, enter from the large rose window on the facade and flood the high altar with golden light.
