- Perast – Our Lady of The Rocks – Kotor
Perast is located in the heart of Boka Bay, at a distance of 12 km northwest of Kotor. In Perast, remains of the Neolithic culture (dating back to 3500) are found, before the new era, which speaks of its long unique history of long maritime, churches, palaces. Across the coast of Perast, near the coast, there are two beautiful islands that represent the special attraction of the city: Saint George which is natural, and the artificial island of Our Lady of the Rocks.
The legend says that on July 12, 1452, two fishermen found the icon of the Virgin Mary on the rock. The settlers thought it was a sign that the island and the church were to be built there and they called Our Lady of the Rocks. They threw rocks, as well as small boats and large ships damaged in fights fought to build an island. For this, they took 250 years. To date, the ritual throwing of stone around the island has been preserved. This manifestation is known as ”Fašinada” and is held on July 22, each year, as a monument on the day of iconography of the Virgin with little Christ in 1452 on the cliff. As the highlight of the ceremony, stones are cast into the sea around the island, and the ships return back. Traditionally, only men participate in the event. The church itself was built in 1630, and the octagonal chapel after forty years. A special significance in the museum is the famous needlepoint of the Virgin made by own hair, which is a vowel work by Perastanka Kunić from 1828.
See Kotor – a city and municipality on the coast of the Boka Bay in Montenegro. Situated in one of the most beautiful bays, this town of merchants and sailors has a lot to show. Kotor Bay (Boka Kotorska) is one of the deepest and longest in the Adriatic Sea and is often called the southernmost fiord of Europe. The old Mediterranean archipelago, surrounded by impressive city walls, is very well preserved and included in the UNESCO list of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Between 1420-1797 Kotor was surrounded by Venice and Venetian influence stands out in urban architecture. Throughout the city, there are buildings, intertwined with streets and squares, and on one of them there is a Cathedral of Saint Tryphon (XII century) – the recognizable symbol of the city – dedicated to the patron of the town. The most imposing are, however, the city walls that surround the city, about 5 km long, high to 20 and wide to 10 meters. Climbing along the walls, you will arrive at the San Giovanni fortress at about 280m above sea level from which you can see the enchanting panorama.
Various events, carnivals and festivals organized each year give this city extra charm.
In recent years, it has been an increasing number of tourists who are attracted to the natural beauty of Boka Bay, as well as the old town of Kotor, which is not surprising, since Kotor has been on the top list of the most visited destinations for years.
It was nominated for the title of the best European destination in 2019, following the results achieved in 2018 at a competition conducted by European Best Destinations – EBD.
The old town of Kotor also has a great number of nicely arranged restaurants and hotels where you can taste traditional specialties as well as varied Mediterranean food.
Simply, Kotor is the city to which the visit is unavoidable!
Don’t hesitate to visit this unique part of Montenegro!