Just 12 kilometres from Kotor along the Bay of Kotor, Perast is one of Montenegro's most beautiful and underrated destinations. A perfectly preserved baroque town with 16 churches and a fascinating maritime history - and just offshore, the miraculous island of Our Lady of the Rocks.
Perast - A Town Frozen in Time
Perast was one of the most prosperous towns on the Adriatic coast during the 17th and 18th centuries, when the seafaring captains of Boka Kotorska were among the most respected in the Mediterranean. The town's wealth is reflected in its extraordinarily well-preserved baroque palaces, churches and piazzas - all compressed into a single narrow strip between the mountains and the bay.
Today Perast has fewer than 300 permanent residents, but its historical legacy is immense. Walking the main street, lined with baroque palaces and waterfront terraces, feels like stepping into a different century. The town has no cars - only pedestrians and the occasional fishing boat disturb the peace.
Our Lady of the Rocks - The Miraculous Island
Just offshore from Perast lie two small islands. The larger, Saint George Island, is a natural island topped by a Benedictine monastery that is closed to visitors. The smaller, Our Lady of the Rocks, is entirely artificial - created over centuries by local sailors who, after a legendary miraculous event in 1452, pledged to throw rocks into the sea on the anniversary each year until an island formed large enough to build a church.
The Church of Our Lady of the Rocks, built on the island in 1630, is a marvel of Adriatic baroque architecture. Inside, the walls are covered with over 2,300 silver votive tablets donated by sailors as thanks for prayers answered - the accumulated faith of generations of Boka seafarers. The centrepiece of the church is a painting of the Madonna and Child by local artist Tripo Kokolja, surrounded by an extraordinary collection of ex-votos.
The Legend of Gospa od Škrpjela
According to legend, two sailors from Perast found an icon of the Madonna on a reef in the bay on July 22, 1452. Taking this as a divine sign, the locals began throwing rocks and sinking old ships loaded with stones onto the reef, gradually building up the island over the following centuries. Every year on July 22nd, the ceremony of fašinada is still performed - boats circle the island and throw rocks into the sea in continuation of the ancient tradition.
How to Visit
Small boats run regularly from the Perast waterfront to Our Lady of the Rocks. The crossing takes just a few minutes. On a private guided tour, your guide will arrange the boat transfer. Perast combines perfectly with a Kotor Old Town visit for a full day around the Bay of Kotor.
Monte Adventurer includes Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks as part of the Kotor Bay Tour - one of the most popular and rewarding private tours in Montenegro.