Perast & the Church Islands
Perast is a tiny baroque town (only about 350 inhabitants) at the narrowest point of the Bay of Kotor — and one of the most romantic places on the entire Adriatic. The waterfront promenade with its 16 palaces and 17 churches testifies to the former wealth of this seafaring nation, which sailed half the world under the Venetian flag.
The Two Church Islands
In front of Perast lie two tiny islands, which are among the most photographed motifs in Montenegro:
- Gospa od Škrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks) — An artificially built-up island, constructed in the 15th century by sailors after they found a Marian icon on a rock reef. Legend has it that every passing sailor threw a stone into the water to enlarge the island. The current church (1630) houses 68 paintings by the baroque painter Tripo Kokolja — including his life's work, which took him 25 years. Boat transfer: 5€ return.
- Sveti Đorđe (St. George) — The natural neighboring island with a Benedictine monastery from the 12th century and an atmospheric cypress cemetery. The island is not open to the public, but it is beautiful to view from the boat. It served as inspiration for Arnold Böcklin's famous painting "Isle of the Dead".
Experience Perast
Perast is not a place for a checklist — it is a place to linger. Sit in one of the waterfront cafés, order a Montenegrin coffee, and gaze at the islands, the mountains, and the still water. The Maritime Museum in the Bujović Palace (admission: 2.50€) tells the amazing story of a miniature naval power that built ships for the Russian fleet. The St. Nicholas Bell Tower (55 meters) offers the best view of the bay — 1€ admission for the climb.
You can reach Perast from Kotor by bus (20 min., 2€), by car (with parking at the entrance, 2€/h), or — most beautifully — by boat from Kotor (shared taxis, 10–15€ return). In summer, it can get crowded during the day; it is most beautiful in the evening hours when the day tourists are gone and the light turns the palaces to gold.
