Josip Sopta receives award for cultural heritage protection

Dr. fra Josip Sopta has been awarded the ‘Vicko Andrić Award’ for 2025 for his exceptional achievements in the protection and promotion of cultural and sacred heritage in the Dubrovnik region. The award, announced by the Ministry of Culture and Media, recognizes his long-term commitment to preserving both architectural heritage and movable inventories within Franciscan monasteries.

Since arriving in the Franciscan monastery of Male braće in Dubrovnik in the 1980s, Dr. Sopta has actively worked to preserve monasteries, churches, and their contents. His efforts include the preservation of the Male braće monastery library and archives, as well as initiating the restoration of the Franciscan monastery in Pridvorje. During the Croatian War of Independence, he played a key role in ensuring the monastery served as a humanitarian center and protected cultural assets from shelling.

Additionally, Dr. Sopta was instrumental in the 1993 establishment of the Restoration Workshop for the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Dubrovnik. His work has extended to coordinating preservation efforts across various sites, including Badija, Pridvorje, and Cavtat.