Franciscan monastery, Dubrovnik

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The large complex of Franciscan Monastery with its lateral facade of the church runs along Placa, the principal street of the town, while the monastery spreads north along the walls as far as the tower Minèeta. The earliest monastery was built in the Pile area, outside the city walls, in the 13th century. The new monastery building was started in 1317 under the protection of the defence walls. The church was completely destroyed in the earthquake of 1667. Later on, the church was reconstructed in the Baroque style.
The cloister, one of the most beautiful in the town, was built in the late Romanesque style in 1360.

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A pharmacy was founded in the monastery in 1317, the third oldest in the whole world, continuously functioning until the present day. It is accessible for public visitors, situated in the large Reneissance hall of the monastery.
The monastery owns one of the richest old libraries in the Croatia, famous all over the world for the value of its inventory. The collections have over 20,000 books, over 2000 of which are old manuscripts of extraordinary value and importance.

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The cloister, in adjacent to the Franciscan church, was built in 1360 by master Mihoje Brajkov. This late Romanesquue ambient is very harmonious, framed by colonnade of double hexaphoras, each with completely different capital. The Franciscan cloister is one of the most valuable Romanesque building on the Croatian shores of the Adriatic. The monastery has another cloister built in the Gothic style, but it is for Friars Minor use only and not accessible to the public.

Just behind St. Saviour's Church is the fourteenth century Franciscan monastery. The cloister is interesting, with plenty of strange, almost bizarre sculptures topping the columns that make up the symmetrical archways. Personally, I preferred the more serence Dominican monastery cloister at the other end of Stradun, but this one is worth a look (it's free). If you want to visit the adjoining treasury, there is a small charge. You'll also find a pharmacy back here that claims to be the oldest in Europe. It opened for business in 1317 and is still operating today (I'm guessing the aspirin might be stale).

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Another monastery in Dubrovnik - the Franciscan monastery, dating from `14th century, is near to the Pile gate and opposite the large fountain. Take a good look at he intricate carvings on the cloister arches - they are all diferent, some humerous animals and strange creatures. Also to be visited here is the old pharmacy of Dubrovnik - unfortunately no photos were allowed of this.

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Although construction on the Franciscan Monastery began in 1317, it is actually the second oldest monastery in Dubrovnik being pre-dated by the Dominican Monastery by two years. Built during the 14th and 15th centuries, it was largely destroyed in the great earthquake of 1667 and rebuilt during the 18th century and beyond in the baroque style you see today.

A few elements remain, most notably the lunette or tympanum carved by the Petrovic brothers above the main portal which is off the Stradun near the Pile Gate. Also surviving the earthquake is the spectacular cloister.

Within the monastery is the famous pharmacy which has been in continuous service since 1317. The museum containing thousands of priceless artworks and artifacts is also worth visiting. One artifact they most likely could do without is a hole in the wall created by a mortar round during the 1990's shelling.

Intro Photo: The Pietà was created in 1499, the same year as Michelangelo's more famous version at the Vatican. In the monastery sculpture you should note the profound sadness on the Virgin Mother's face as opposed to the solemn but serene expression on Michelangelo's Madonna. The Pietà is flanked by the plainly dressed John the Baptist on the right and St. Jerome with his de-thorned lion at his feet. God, of course hovers above them all.

Photo 2: This photo is my current computer desktop image (at least for now). The pattern of light and shadow on this beautiful September day is one of my favorite images and instantly takes me back to Dubrovnik.

Photo 3: The double column colonnade which surrounds the cloister features column capitals each of which is unique.

Photo 4: Be sure to look up along the gallery walls for the beautiful, albeit faded, frescoes.

Photo 5: Here Carol rests within the cloister in front of the 14th century fountain with the stature of St Francis atop.

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The Franciscan Monastery is located near the Pile Gate, and contains an interesting church, a beautiful courtyard, and a museum. The museum features artwork, as well as exhibits about the pharmacy has existed at the monastery since the 1300s.

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It is located at the end of the Placa Sradun, near Pile gate. The first construction started in the 13th century, and outside the walls. With war and attacks, they moved inside the walls and started a new monastery in 1317. The church complex was destroyed in an earthquake in 1667, and the Romanesque cloister was the theme for the rebuilding of the center. The little church called St. Spas, or Saint Savior and is next to the larger more ornate church, and the museum is to the right of the large church. The main church was reconstructed in baroque style. The small church was built 1520-28 in Dalmatian architectural style with the round ornate window in the middle. Inside there is renovation of frescoes going on for the arch walls in the cloister currently, and it surely will take time to renew. The cloister is form the 14th century-renewed-and it has 8 sided columns depicting human heads, animals and grotesques. The monastery also has a nice museum inside that displays some iconic statues, religious church relics and artifacts, and paintings; a nice visit for 20 kuna-$4.

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The friars started the pharmacy in 1317 to serve the needs of its own friars, but eventually they served all of Dubrovnik people for maladies and hurts. It is the 3rd oldest pharmacy in the world, and intact like it is still said to be used today, and it is, but not in the museum. They sell some pharmacy items-not prescription and local creams made from local products also. Entry is 20 kuna-$4.

The library of the monastery is one of the most complete in Europe, and is used by many for resource of the 20,000 books. There are 7,000 volumes and many form Europe/globe come here to read the books for research.

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A pharmacy, founded in 1317, is integral part of the Franciscam monastery and is considered as the third oldest in the whole world, continuously functioning until the present day.
The monastery also owes one of the richest old libraries in the Croatia, famous all over the world. The collection has over twenty thousand books, over 1.200 of which are old manuscripts.