St. Mary Church

St. Mary's Church stands in Pakljena, a short walk from Šipanska Luka on Šipan Island, and it's part of an old Benedictine monastery complex first mentioned in 13th-century records. The current church dates to the 14th century, though it was rebuilt in Renaissance style in the 16th century. A watchtower still stands next to it — built to warn the monks and nearby villagers of pirate raids and Ottoman incursions, a reminder of how exposed these island communities once were.

Inside, the main altar holds a 16th-century wooden polyptych of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, painted by the Dubrovnik artist Kristofor Antunović; it was recently restored after years of wear. The monastery stayed active until the 19th century.

A visit to St. Mary Church pairs well with a gulet cruise along the Croatia coast.