Lopud 1483

Lopud 1483 is a fortified Franciscan monastery on the car-free island of Lopud, around 15 minutes by speedboat from Dubrovnik. Built in 1483, it was home to monks for more than three centuries and withstood Ottoman attacks, before lying empty for some 200 years. Art collector Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza first saw the ruins in 1992 and led their painstaking restoration.

Today the monastery welcomes one group at a time. Its walls of pale Korčula stone enclose five contemporary suites, each with its own bathroom and a view of the sea or the gardens, with interiors by Paola Lenti. The rooms hold works from the Thyssen-Bornemisza family collection and from TBA21, the contemporary art foundation she created, so Renaissance paintings sit alongside pieces by artists such as Olafur Eliasson.

The gardens are a world of their own: a Renaissance garden of more than 80 species, a medicinal garden inspired by manuscripts from Dubrovnik's historic pharmacy, and a sacred garden of meditation spots and herb spirals. From the old fortress walls, a sun deck and sunset terrace look out to Šipan and Mljet, and a small cave leads down to the sea for swimming.

A full team, including hosts, a private chef and security, looks after the monastery. Stays are half board, with menus built around local produce and Croatian wines chosen by a sommelier. There is a hammam, a treatment room and a gym, and bikes, paddleboards and kayaks are on hand.

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