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Belfry of St, Mark church, Hvar.

The Dominican Monastery and Church of Saint Mark is located near the waterfront and close to St Steven’s Square in the heart of Hvar.

From the 13th to the 18th centuries Hvar was part of the Venetian Empire. It was an important naval base and had a strong fortress, encircling town walls, and a protected port. The walls still survive, as do many of the fine houses and public buildings from the Venetian period.

The Dominican Order was formed in France in 1216 to preach the Gospel and oppose heresy, and throughout the Middle Ages it spread out across Europe, reaching Croatia towards the end of the 13th beginning of the 14th century. It is known that the construction of a Dominican monastery started in Dubrovnik in 1301. Records relating to the monastery and the Church of St Mark in Hvar date back to 1312, but the remains of the building as they are today are from the 16th and 17th century.

During its use, the church was the meeting place for a municipal assembly of the nobility who, as in so many countries at that time, dominated the country in all respects, something that led to the resentment of the common people. The 16th century was a period of unsettled times with conflict occurring between the citizens of the town and its nobles.