The Franciscan order arrived in Dubrovnik around 1234 and the first Franciscan monastery was built in the 13th century. Unfortunately, threatened with war, it was demolished to prevent its use by the enemy in the eventual case that the City might be besieged.

Although work was continued throughout centuries, the new Romanesque monastery was constructed in 1317 and the Friars Minor pharmacy was established as the public pharmacy, as well as for the needs of the monks. The establishment of the pharmacy provided a steady income to the order and solved their materialistic needs.