The common name of Sant'Antonio Nuovo (New Sant'Antonio) derives from the fact that there was a pre-existing Sant'Antonio church. 

It was built in the Neoclassical style between 1825 and 1849, to plans by the architect Pietro Nobile - one of the leading exponents of Neoclassicism in Trieste - who took inspiration from the classical splendour of famous Roman monuments.

The designs were actually provided by Pietro Nobile in 1808, but teething problems caused work to be delayed for so long that the architect, who by then had become Director of the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, had to supervise the work via letters.

The façade of the Church of Sant'Antonio Nuovo features a majestic porch with six Ionic columns and a wide front. The attic holds six statues sculpted by Francesco Bosa in 1842 depicting the Patron Saints of Trieste: Justus, Sergius, Servulus, Maurus, Euphemia and Thecla.