Franciscan Church and Monastery, Pula (must see)

In 1209, Pope Innocent III, a firm believer that the papacy was the political Sun and everything else was not, gave his consent for the newly formed Franciscan order to set up shop in the town of Pula. The Franciscans eventually established a church and monastery on the western slope of Pula hill, below the fortress and above the Forum.

Several dates are given for the construction of the church, ranging from 1291 to 1314. It was completed by Jacobus de Pola, a Franciscan Brother and architect. He is believed to have also had a hand in the design of the Communal Palace of Pula.

The style of the church is Romanesque with Gothic accents. The design follows the architectural Narbonne rules of 1260. The floor plan is rectangular. The sanctuary is square. There is a single-walled bell tower looming over the roof. There is a connecting cloister, a hall, a refectory and sacristy joining the monastery and choir.

In keeping with the views of a mendicant order, the buildings were simple, nothing fancy and skillfully made. On the main altar is a gilded 15th century polyptych. The center panel holds a high relief of the Virgin Mary and Christ. Twelve disciples are depicted surrounding the center. Gothic phials are at the ends of the piece.

The monastery cloister has Renaissance pillars. In the front of the church is a lapidarium with a collection of wall paintings and medieval monuments. Buried in the Church are the remains of Blessed Otto. He arrived in Pula around 1235. He is credited with many miraculous healings. He died in 1241. He is venerated in Pula to this day.