Franciscan monastery
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You are in the area of the Franciscan Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Omiš, a place that preserves more than three hundred years of interesting history. The monastery was founded by the Franciscans in 1715, after they had to flee from Prološki Blato near Imotski due to Turkish incursions. The journey to Omiš was not easy: the friars first stayed temporarily in Rogoznica, and only then reached Omiš, where the citizens and authorities welcomed them. They spent the first two years outside the city walls, and in 1716 they began building a monastery in Skalice, on land generously given to them by local owners. Interestingly, one of them, Jakov Mariani, made the donation of the land conditional on the Franciscans holding two masses for his deceased every year in perpetuity. The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, built according to the designs of the Split master Petar Bilinić, was completed in 1770. Over the centuries, it has undergone numerous alterations, including the renovation of the interior and the installation of new altars in the early 20th century. The church also houses a small Gothic statue of Our Lady from the 15th century, which was venerated even before the arrival of the Franciscans. The organ was installed in 1792, and the bell tower was renovated in 2014. The monastery preserves a rich archive book bound in lambskin, written in Bosnian script, which describes the dramatic escape of the friars from Prološki Blato on 416 pages. Among the most valuable documents are 11 Venetian dukes and 46 Turkish documents, the oldest of which is from 1574. One Turkish document in particular stands out: it measures 58 x 42.5 cm, is decorated with gold frames and contains 20 signatures of the caliphs of the time, and experts believe that it also contains a prayer by Muhammad himself. The library has more than 10,000 volumes, including rare incunabula and a valuable donation from Frank Radman in 1985. The Pinacoteca, opened in 1986, exhibits Baroque paintings and objects brought by the Franciscans from Prološki Blato, including liturgical textiles from the 17th and 18th centuries and paintings of Christ, Saint Jerome and other saints from the 18th century. A special feature of this monastery are the caves dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima, which attract numerous pilgrims. Throughout history, the monastery was also known for its inn, where travelers and the poor received accommodation and food, and today it is a home for elderly and sick friars. Regular masses are held according to the summer and winter schedule, and although the official name is "Franciscan Monastery and Church in Skalice", in everyday speech the name Our Lady of Mount Carmel prevails. One interesting fact: although the monastery was initially named after Saint Francis, and then after Saint Caius, the name Our Lady of Mount Carmel became established among the people in 1757 and has remained so to this day.