Franjevački samostan na Košljunu

Košljun is a small wooded island in Punat Bay where religious communities have succeeded one another for centuries. After a Benedictine abbey, the Franciscans took over the abandoned monastery in 1447 with the support of the Frankopan family and rebuilt the church dedicated to the Annunciation. The monastery preserves an important library and archive, ethnographic and natural-history collections, and works of art including a 1535 polyptych by Girolamo da Santacroce. Košljun is reached by small boats from Punat, and its compact size makes it suitable for a quiet walk. The visit is especially appealing to travellers interested in monastic heritage, historical art and the island’s protected natural setting.