Baroque Refectory at the Dominican Monastery

The Baroque Refectory at the Dominican Monastery brings chamber music into an Early Baroque hall decorated with biblical feasts and figures from Dominican tradition.

Located inside the active Dominican monastery beside the Church of St. Giles, the former dining hall was also the community’s principal ceremonial room. Today its historic interior hosts concerts, lectures, exhibitions and other cultural events.

An Early Baroque ceremonial hall

The Dominicans began building their monastery at St. Giles after receiving the church in 1626. The great refectory took its present form towards the end of the 17th century. Its design is attributed to the Italian architect Carlo Lurago, while the artistic decoration was probably completed before 1712.

The Wedding at Cana above the hall

Rich stucco frames almost fifty paintings arranged in several thematic cycles. The centre of the vault is occupied by the Wedding at Cana, accompanied by scenes of St. Giles giving water to a wounded doe and St. Dominic and his brethren being served by angels. The recurring images of food reflect the room’s original function as a monastic dining hall.

Saints and a living monastery

The window recesses contain eighteen portraits of saints and other revered figures, including St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Catherine of Siena. The Dominican community remains active, while the refectory continues to serve as a meeting place for culture, discussion and music.