Franciscan Monastery Museum

On Stradun, near Pile Gate, the Franciscan Monastery Museum combines a quiet cloister with a compact collection of art, religious objects and medical history. Its central draw is the historic pharmacy, in operation since 1317, where you can see old apothecary jars, tools and manuscripts. The museum also displays paintings, liturgical objects and gold jewelry. Step into the cloister garden for a quieter pause from Dubrovnik’s busy streets. The Dubrovnik Pass includes admission, which can make it a practical stop if you plan to visit other included sights.

The pharmacy and its collection

The monastery’s pharmacy has operated since 1317 and is one of the oldest in Europe. The museum displays parts of its history, including apothecary jars, tools and manuscripts that document early medical practice. Some of the equipment is notably large, giving the displays a tangible sense of the work once carried out here.

The museum is in a Renaissance hall reached from the cloister. Alongside the pharmacy material, its collection includes paintings, religious objects, gold jewelry and other valuable artifacts. The museum is relatively small, so take time with individual displays; explanations on site may be limited.

The cloister and monastery complex

The monastery’s mid-14th-century cloister sits within solid stone walls and surrounds a garden. Its calm setting offers a pause from the busy streets of the Old Town. The complex brings together Romanesque-Gothic and Baroque elements; the church was rebuilt in the Baroque style after the 1667 earthquake.

A monastery is documented in Dubrovnik from 1235. In 1317, amid threats of war, it was re-established within the city walls. The complex also includes a library added in the 17th century. As you move between the cloister and museum, the building’s different periods are part of the visit.