Another place of interest in Sant Antoni is this church, located in a square with the same name. It has the typical architecture of the older island temples, which were conceived as religious centres, fortresses and meeting points. This particular church was built in the 14th century and the tower had a polygonal shape to help it serve as a fortress in the case of pirate invasions.
When pirates appeared in the horizon, watchers used to make smoke signs or blew a horn in a particular way. It was then that the community rushed to the church to take refuge. This is why the temple has no windows. Doors used to be made of iron so that they could not be burnt, and a huge Sabina beam locked them from inside. In the building there used to be also a well with drinking water in case the confinement lasted a few days. If enemies got close to the temple, local people spilled boiling oil from the bell tower.
Documents relate that in 1847 the tower still used to have two cannons pointing at sa Conillera. They were used for the last time in 1818, trying to sink two smuggling vessels from Gibraltar. The church also has a spacious entrance porch which was where people used to meet after mass to exchange news. In fact, they still do this, even today, and in the other parishes too. Once in, you can admire San Roque altarpiece, the Virgin of Rosario and a wood sculpture of San Vicente Ferrer dated from XVIIth century.
