DUBROVNIK FRANCISCAN MONASTERY. .. . .As a part of the mission of the Franciscan monks, a pharmacy was opened in 1317 to meet the health needs of local citizens. It has remained open ever since. You can see old jars from centuries ago, but you can’t take any photos. However, in the cloister, there was a huge mounted photo of the pharmacy and I took a picture of that.

The monks’ cloister was a part of the ticket tour, and it was so restful. The courtyard was lined with 60 Romanesque-Gothic pillars, each with its own unique capital at the top. The hallways around the pillars had frescos, pealing with age but rich with charm. And, the actual garden, ablaze in sunlight, had orange trees. To my surprise, I found orange trees in hidden corners throughout the Old Town.

MARTIN