Franciscan Church and Monastery

The Franciscan monastery of the Friars Minor occupies the western end of Stradun, beside St Saviour’s Church. Its lower cloister rewards close inspection of paired columns and capitals carved with plants, animals and human figures, providing a quieter setting than the busy street outside. The museum preserves furnishings, jars and equipment from the old pharmacy, illustrating the preparation of medicines. The monastery’s pharmaceutical tradition is associated with 1317, although the historical display and the pharmacy operating today are separate spaces. The adjoining church was restored after the earthquake of 1667, allowing a visit to connect medieval stone carving with a later church interior.