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The Dominican convent

The Dominican convent

In the eastern part of the city, on the outskirts of the ramparts, lies the great architectural complex of the Dominican Convent. This is one of the city’s most important architectural ensembles. It is also one of Dubrovnik’s greatest treasures of cultural and artistic heritage.
The Dominican Monastery complex represents one of Dubrovnik’s most distinctive architectural, religious and cultural units. It is also one of the most important artistic treasures on the eastern Adriatic coast.

Arrival of the Dominicans in Dubrovnik

The monastery of Saint Dominic belongs to the Order of Dominicans, i.e. the Order of Friars Preachers, founded in 1215 by Saint Dominic. The Order was established to preach the Gospel in the living and written word, and in personal life.
In order to better extend their mission, St. Dominic wanted monasteries to be located in cities where they could be in constant contact with all social strata

The stairs at the Dominican convent

The Dominican convent

The convent was built as early as 1225 by the Dominican order, while the church and other buildings belonging to it were not constructed until the 14ᵉ century.
The convent complex was fully completed by the 15ᵉ century, when the sacristy, cloister porticoes and chapter house were added. Construction of the beautiful cloister porticoes extended into the second half of the 15ᵉ century.

Convent library and museum

The convent houses an important library containing over 200 incunabula, numerous illuminated manuscripts as well as the archive with valuable documents and manuscripts.
In the rich art collection masterpieces of local painting from 15ᵉ and 16ᵉ century. The leading masters of the period were Lovro Dobricevic, Mihajlo Hamzic and Nikola Bozidarevic. The museum also features a remarkable collection of foreign artworks. Among the works in the Dominican Convent Museum are the splendid crucifix painted in the 14th century by the renowned painter Paolo Veneziano, and the famous altarpiece of St. Mary Magdalene painted in 1550 by Titian and his workshop.

More recent paintings include the altarpiece depicting “The Miracle of St. Dominic” by Vlaho Bukovac and several by Ivo Dulčić.

The church of St Dominic

The church represents one of the largest Gothic spaces on the eastern Adriatic coast. Simple in its architectural conception, the church has a vast rectangular nave ending in a pentagonal Gothic apse. The church’s south portal features Romanesque elements, but in 1419, Bonino de Milano surmounted it with a sharp Gothic arch.
Inside the church, you can admire the stone furnishings, pulpit, tombstones and Renaissance niches.

Timetables

1. May – 31. October: 9.00 – 18.00 h
01. November – 30. April 9.00 – 17.00 h

The convent is included in the Dubrovnik Card.

Source: Dubrovnik, Forum
The Dominican convent in Dubrovnik