Building between the old and the new part of the city, the church of Saint Antonio Abate it's located in the area of the antic tower of Pharat, indeed there was the antic wall of the cuty and one of the nine doors "Bab-al-bahr" or "Porta di Mare" or "Porta Patitelli" during normann domination. 

The first news around this church dates back to 1220 when became parish instead of the church of S. Cataldo. The arab tower of Pharat became the bell tower of the church builded by Manfredi Chiaramonte the Old made between 1302-1313, with civic pourpouse, indeed at the top was located the bell of palermitan Senate, since this church was their institutional chapel. 

​

During Renaissance, between 1516-1536, the church was rebuilt by Antonio Belguardo, who enlarge the greek plant since touching the tower. Other transformation occured in 1833 after an earthquake and in 1884, for the construction of the Via Roma. 

​

During XVI and XIX century, several artists works in here like, Antonino Gagini (son of the most know Antonello, marble master), who made the "Cona" of "Santissimo Sacramento" in 1551-1561, today reduced in pieces and located on the left of the altar, originally on the sides there were the statues of Peter and Paul (now on the side of the outside door) and the two statues of S. Antonio Abate (outside the canonic home). It shows in the middle the Tabernacle between angels and the Holy Spirit on top. On sides, scenes of Passion according to Matthew Gospel, which lecture goes from down to up and from right to left. 

On the back of the Baptistery the canvas of the "Baptism of Christ" made by Filippo Pennino (1756). Of Gaspare Bazzano knonw as the Zoppo of Ganci it's the canvas of  S. Antonio Abate on the left of the altar. 

The oldest work inside the church it's the ardesia of "Madonna delle Grazie" , originally outside the church of Padri Scalzi of Mercè and then moved in here in 1665 to preserved from bad weather.