Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua

Until 1879, the lands of Formosa were inhabited by the Toba and Witchi Indian tribes. But that year, Colonel Luis Jorge Fontana founded a city here. In ancient Basque, its name sounded "beautiful". New settlers were believers and needed shrines. So, the modern city of Formosa was developing, and churches appeared. The first place where residents were holding masses was a small building without windows and benches. The number of visitors was increasing every day. So, in 1882, the masses were moved to the chapels of the Franciscan Order of the closest settlements. Ten years later, the priest Gabriel Grotti suggested the locals build a chapel and name it in honor of St. Anthony of Padua. One of the residents offered a piece of land of 2500 sq m., and the rest gave money. 

In 1911, Formosa got the first church with a small bell tower. Though the construction was not completed yet, the priest held the first mass in the new church. Later, the chapel was offered the image of St. Anthony of Padua, and inhabitants had a holiday in its honor. That day, the priest read a solemn sermon, blessed the believers, and gave food to the poor.

In 1913, chapel workers sent a request for a bell installation to the Bochumer Verein foundry in Germany. But the cast 100-kilogram bell was delivered on a ship to Formosa only in 1915. That year, people planted trees next to the chapel, and priests were holding masses.

The chapel was founded about a hundred years ago, but it still attracts hundreds of parishioners. And on June 13, St. Anthony's Day, thousands of believers come to this city for the annual religious festival. It includes a holiday service and a procession with offering food to the poor.