Saint Anthony of Padua was a Franciscan priest and follower of Francis of Assisi, a master of spiritual doctrine and a renowned preacher. Although his vocation lasted less than 10 years, the influence of his words and his actions has had an international impact down to our own time. He is the national saint of Portugal and a saint of the whole world, as the patron of sailors, the poor, elderly people, the oppressed and prisoners.

The Franciscans arrived in Crikvenica, a spa town on the north of the Adriatic coast, in 1926 and built a new church on the site of an existing chapel. The interior decoration, the black marble altar and the magnificent statue of St. Antony were made by the sculptor Zvonko Car, a pupil of his fellow Croatian, the great sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. In 2001, the church became the parish church.

Thanks to the priest, Fra. Ante Mrvelj, the friary and the church have been restored and a 40m high bell tower built. At the initiative of Fra. Ante Mrvelj, and thanks to the knowledge of the world famous lighting expert Youri Agabekov, the bell tower has been lit, fulfilling the dream of Fr Ante and the inhabitants of Crikvenica. The bell tower shines and gives off light on all sides, like a guide for all the faithful.