Behind the Large Onofrio's Fountain stands the complex of the Monastery of St. Clare, the most well-known of Dubrovnik's eight convents, where noblewomen of the city were most often ordained.
Built during the 13th and 14th centuries, the monastery was designed with great care to ensure the virtuous life of the nuns, although it underwent significant alterations over the centuries.
As early as the 13th century, the monastery opened a shelter for abandoned children, predating the 1432 founding of one of the oldest orphanages by the Dubrovnik government. The original building still stands in nearby Zlatarićeva Street, marked by a Latin inscription above the door and a receiving window for children.
During the Napoleonic rule, the monastery was dissolved and repurposed as a munitions depot and stables.
Today, the monastic complex serves multiple purposes, blending its rich history with modern uses.
