Franciscan Monastery & Ancient Pharmacy: Cloister of Seven Centuries
Why is it significant?
Step into the serene oasis of the Franciscan Monastery cloister, where fragrant orange trees, potted herbs, and palm fronds shade a central limestone courtyard.
Key Facts
| Place | Franciscan Monastery & Ancient Pharmacy: Cloister of Seven Centuries |
|---|---|
| Address | Placa 2, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia |
| Geo Coordinates | 42.64180, 18.10800 |
| Part of Walk | Dubrovnik: Pearl of the Adriatic, White Stone Walls, and King's Landing |
| Generated | Generated |
Step into the serene oasis of the Franciscan Monastery cloister, where fragrant orange trees, potted herbs, and palm fronds shade a central limestone courtyard. Walk slowly along the covered walkway: one hundred and twenty slender octagonal pillars feature hand-carved capitals depicting dragons, sirens, two-headed eagles, and laughing human faces.
Established in thirteen seventeen by Franciscan friars, the monastery's pharmacy has been operating continuously for more than seven centuries, making it the third-oldest functioning pharmacy in the entire world. Early friars prepared salves, tinctures, and perfumes using wild rosemary, lavender, and citrus oils grown in this very cloister.
You can still purchase traditional face creams mixed according to original fourteenth-century handwritten monastic formulas in the pharmacy counter today.
Continue down the gleaming Stradun to Luža Square, where Sponza Palace and Orlando's Column await.