Monastery of St. Francis of Assisi, Zadar

The Roman Catholic Franciscan Monastery of St. Francis Assisi in Zadar, under the jurisdiction of the Franciscan Province of Saint Jerome, dates back to the 13th century. Built in 1221, the monastery and its namesake church were consecrated on October 12, 1282, by bishop Lovro Periandar.

Over the centuries, this religious site has played a prominent role in Zadar's spiritual life and served as the site of the Franciscan school, a forerunner to the present-day University of Zadar. The monastery housed a noteworthy collection of codices, parchments, and a picture gallery. It was here that Saint Jakov Varingez (Giacomo of Bitetto) received his first ordination.

Located in the western part of the city, the monastery's Gothic church is the oldest of its kind in Dalmatia. The main altar, erected in 1672, is situated behind the chapel, which is adorned with intricately carved Gothic choir seats dating back to 1394 by Giacomo da Borgo Sansepolcro.

Adjacent to the choir area is the sacristy, which is of historical significance in Croatia as it was the site of the signing of the Treaty of Zadar in 1358. This treaty marked the end of Venetian control over Dalmatia, as the Venetian Republic relinquished its territorial claims to the Hungarian-Croatian King Louis I.