Stay Inside a Beautifully Restored 15th-Century Monastery With a Frank Gehry Connection

Upon entering the property, visitors are greeted by two extraordinary large angels, which once guarded the entrance to the Villa Favorita. The imposing walnut dining table in the former refectory dates from 1550 and the walnut-and-leather chairs made in Dresden in the 18th-century belonged to Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza’s father. Above the table stands an early-17th-century painting of St. Sebastian by painter Francesco Furini, and next to it is an antique cabinet containing valuable Renaissance tankards, chalices, and cups belonging to Francesca’s grandfather. In the salon, some Gothic chests and a 16th-century tapestry make an interesting contrast with Paola Lenti’s contemporary minimalist furniture. 

During the restoration, Thyssen-Bornemisza also discovered an old pharmacy from the Renaissance era, prompting a search for original manuscripts on the healing power of medicinal plants and herbs in Dubrovnik libraries. Franciscan monks were experts in creating herbal medicines and remedies, and they were operating a pharmacy in Dubrovnik (Europe’s third oldest city) as early as 1317. Learning this, Thyssen-Bornemisza decided to recreate the ancient pharmacy inside Lopud 1483, with ancient mortars and manuscripts dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

Even the garden has been restored with extreme care to its original design. Wide green expanses sit between the monastery and the sea, crossed by rows of olive and lemon trees. Lopud is the second-largest island in the Elaphiti archipelago, and, despite the centuries, it’s charm has retained. The island’s buildings are centuries old—with the sole exception of one more recent hotel—and the landscape is dotted with citrus and olive trees. The beaches are still pristine, and the island is car-free.

Lopud 1483 is available for rent as a private residence from April to October on a half-board basis. The island can be reached in less than an hour by ferry from the port of Dubrovnik.