The Dominican monastery, Lopud
Images & story by Tour Guide Rosy
Above the entrance, you can spot the beautiful rosette with acanthus leaves. When you step inside, your glance will lead to the altarpiece from the 16th century. It represents an economic and cultural rise of the small community due to the developed seafaring.
There is a cemetery in the church. This kind of burial was forbidden by Napoleon in the 19th century.
The Dominican Order
The Dominican Order is a mendicant order. It arose as a reaction to the overall situation in the church and society. They also studied, preached, and practiced the apostolate. Therefore, they were in direct contact with people. The first Dominicans came to the Croatian regions during the life of St. Dominic. In 1225 they founded a monastery in Dubrovnik. Each monastery was also a school open to the public.
In Lopud Dominican monastery operated primary school and three grammar classes.
Renovation of the Dominican monastery and the church
The devastating earthquake from 1667 destroyed the Dominican monastery and the church. After repair, the church remained in function. However, the monastery never got restored. Now it is used as a garden, and it is in a private property.
A new earthquake in 1979 further damaged the church, which affected its decay. It was renovated in 1994 with the help of the locals and patrons.
The renovation of the main altar started in 1997 by professors and students from the Conservation and Restoration, University of Applied Sciences, Cologne. Society for the Preservation of the Natural and Artistic Heritage of Lopud worked closely on International Conservation Workshop Lopud with students and professors from Cologne, Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Split, and Dubrovnik for years.
You can read more about this workshop here.
Featured Author
Rosy
Hi! My name is Ružica (Rosy), I’m a historian, art historian and licensed tour guide who is madly in love with Lopud island. I’m totally amazed by its peculiar history and with nowadays way of life. I take it as my mission to present why is this one of the most interesting places to live in.
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