Franciscan Monastery of Dubrovnik

After our very delicious breakfast we made our way to the Franciscan Monastery belonging to the Order of the Friars Minor, the Franciscan Church. Construction on the church started in the 13th century and a section of construction undertaken in the 14th century. The second phase took centuries to be completed, until the structure looked pretty much like it does to this day. Sculpted in 1498 by Petar and Leonard Andrijic, the pieta above the door of the monastery is an especially striking feature, setting visitors up for the beautiful cloister inside the monastery. The cloister itself features slim columns on which sit an assortment of plant, animal, and human figures. The frescos in the wall arches were beautiful and once again I am amazed that we can see these things from centuries ago.

Inside the monastery is a pharmacy that is actually the third-oldest in Europe. It is also the first European pharmacy to be opened to the public, having been operational since 1391.

The Renaissance Hall features an amazing museum collection of the monastery. Housing paintings by the old masters, gold and silver implements trom the goldsmith trade, and an extensive inventory of the entire pharmacy, the museum was definitely worth a visit.

Amazing that these items still exists after bombing during the civil war in 1991. On display there is a reminder of the war. In the friary a mortar round pierced the wall and the hole has been framed. it just makes it all the more real what they experienced here. It was so worth the visit.Read more