Perast is an old town in the Gulf of Kotor, Montenegro. The place is a few kilometers northwest of Kotor and is known for the views of the islands of St. George and the Mother of the Rocks. Perast is one of the most beautiful little places in Boka Bay, located just a few kilometres from Kotor. It looks like a piece of Venice that has floated down the Adriatic. This tiny town boasts 16 churches and 17 formerly grand palazzos. Perast’s most famous landmarks are actually right in the middle of the waters- two picturesque islands with quite the story behind them.
Throughout history, many have struggled to conquer this place (Byzantine Empire, Venetian and Hungarian, French, Austrian …). Each has left a significant mark on this marvelous, beautiful little place. Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Ċ krpjela) sits on a man-made island. The story begins on July 22, 1452: two sailors, returning to Perast from a difficult voyage, discovered an icon of the Madonna and Child resting on a rock in a shallow part of the Bay. No visit to Perast would be complete without taking a boat trip (leaves regularly from the quay) to the islands of St George and Our Lady of the Rocks. They both have a chapel. Legend has it that Our Lady of the Rocks was built after some sailor’s found a picture of the Virgin Mary on a rock in the middle of the bay.
Perast, Montenegro
