Franciscan Church and Monastery, Pula (must see)

In 1209, Pope Innocent III, a firm believer in the supremacy of the papacy, approved the newly formed Franciscan Order. The Franciscans eventually established a church and monastery on the western slope of Pula’s central hill, below the fortress and above the Forum. Several dates have been proposed for the church’s construction, ranging from 1291 to 1314. It was completed by Jacobus de Pola, a Franciscan friar and architect who is also believed to have contributed to the design of Pula’s Communal Palace.

Before entering, examine the principal façade, particularly its Greek-marble portal and rose window. Inside, walk straight along the rectangular nave toward the raised Gothic sanctuary at the far end. Its pointed arches provide the clearest Gothic contrast to the otherwise predominantly Romanesque interior. Behind the main altar stands the church’s principal artwork: the gilded wooden Pula Polyptych, created during the 15th century under Venetian artistic influence. Its central high relief shows the Virgin Mary holding Christ, surrounded by twelve saints and crowned by slender Gothic pinnacles.

On reaching the sanctuary, look into the chapel immediately to the left of the main altar. This chapel contains the remains of Blessed Otto, the Franciscan friar traditionally associated with miraculous healings in medieval Pula. His relics were removed when the complex was suppressed during the 19th century but were later returned and placed here for public veneration.

The monastery cloister adjoins the church rather than lying beyond the sanctuary. Return toward the entrance and follow the indicated access into the monastery section; because the complex remains religious property, the available doorway and accessible rooms may depend on current arrangements. The cloister surrounds a central courtyard with arcaded passages on two levels.

Medieval stone monuments forming a lapidarium are displayed around the cloister and near the church entrance, together with copies of historic Istrian wall paintings. If access to the chapter hall is permitted, look beside its Gothic doorway for the carved coats of arms of the Castropola family, Pula’s powerful medieval rulers and supporters of the Franciscans.