About architectonic development of the Franciscan Monastery of St. Cross in Zivogosce in the 17th and 18th centuries/O Architektonskom razvitku Franjevackog Samostana Sv. Kriza u zivogoscu u XVII. I XVIII. Sstoljecu

Foundation of the monastery of the St. Cross in Zivogosce in the region of Makarska seashore happened in 1614, in the time of friar Mijo Ronovic from Imotski, who was deputy of the Bosnian bishop Balicevic. This was also time of reign of the emperor Maximilian Habs burg, who appointed friar Bartul Kacic Zarkovic to the position of bishop of Makarska. This monastery was founded as exile resort for the Bosnian Franciscans, who ran from Ottomans. On this location before monastery existed a ruin of ancient villa rustica and/or old medieval fortress. The oldest parts of monastery, its eastern wing and first monastery church, were built in the period of the Ottoman rule, during the seventeenth century, when the monastery was a part of Franciscan province Bosna Srebrna. Since the monastery was often under the Ottoman attack, the construction has some attributes of fortress or castle: thick walls with loop holes, armored gates, and possibly defensive fort nearby the church entrance, together with lifting bridge within the cloister that is mentioned in the manuscripts of friar Zlatovic. In this period monastery protected faith (church) and worshippers (fort) but it was also pharmacy and hospice (musarfihana house). This monastery was completely devastated during the Ottoman attack in 1647. Afterwards was renewed but very poorly. After the liberation from Ottomans in 1699 region of Makarska sea-shore became a part of Venetian dominion. Since province of Bosna Srebrna was divided into three parts because of the new political borders, in 1735 new province was founded under the name of Holy Savior. One can say that the eighteenth century became a period in which monastery was completely restored, as well as some annexes were built, too. Moreover, the convent became educational centre, since there existed novitiate. This renovation had started in 1745, under custody of retired friar Petar Karapandza, who was lector generalis. One has to note that this friar brought to monastery valuable possessions, among which were many pictures and manuscripts. During this renovation many edifices were expanded depending on the number of the existing monks and other members of the convent. This reconstruction of monastery of St. Cross in Zivogosce probably was under the influence of Ivan Macanovic from Dubrovnik, Petar Skoko and Petar Bilinic, together with Italian engineers Bartolo Riviera and Giovanni Francesco Rossini, since these builders were responsible for all the new edifices