The Franciscan Monastery
The Franciscan Monastery
A fabulous place! The most beautiful scenic viewpoint in Orebić. In the 15th century, on St. Elijah’s Hill, at an altitude of 150 meters above sea level, a Franciscan monastery and the votive Gothic-Renaissance church of Our Lady of the Angels were built. It contains two marble reliefs of the Madonna and Child in the manner of Thomas Fiamberti and Nicholas of Florence, the crucifix by J. Petrović, the main altar by Maffe da Verona, and paintings of sailing ships as votive gifts from the sailors. The monastery hosts the Votive Museum with the famous painting of the Madonna, washed up on the Orebić shore in the 15th century.
Behind the church is the Captain’s Graveyard, featuring the magnificent mausoleum of the Mimbelli family, the work of the famous sculptor Ivan Rendić. A girl with an inverted pitcher, carved in marble, symbolises the end of the family of the Orebić shipowner and philanthropist Anton Mimbelli. Because of the forbidden love with the governess’s daughter, his son Baldo swore that he would never love again and that his family would die with him. And so it was.
Did you know? Earlier, the captains of Orebić would greet the city by sounding their sirens, and the Franciscans answered by tolling the bell from the Church of Our Lady of the Angels bell tower.
culture & history
