The Fransiscan Monastery

This Fransiscan monastery was build in a typical Roman-Gothic style during the 14th century. It is an architectural master piece, which unfortunately was completely destroyed later after the great earthquake that hit Dubrovnic. The only remainder from the period before the earthquake is the entrance gate with the ‘pieta at stradun’, a Gothic sculpture. The rest of the architecture is rebuild and therefor contains Renaissance and Baroque influences as well.

Within the cloister you'll find one of the oldest pharmacies of Europe, still decorated in it's original style and very charming. It is the only pharmacy build in the early 14th century that was preserved and is still opened, worldwide. In the monastery museum one can watch the old instruments and devices ones used in it.

The library connected to the cloister shows many handwritten documents and other literature. More than thirty thousand works are stored there. A painting is exhibited as well, that shows the old town of Dubrovnik before the great earthquake, in it's original state. This is very rare but gives the viewer an impression of how inhabitants of the town used to work and live.

The monastery is a beautiful but simple building, as well from the outside as inside. I think it is definitely worth a visit, although you won't spend hours here.

The entrance fee isn't too expensive: 6kn approximately