Our Lady of the Rocks
In the heart of the Bay of Kotor, just 500 meters off Perast’s coast, stands the magnificent 15th-century Church of Our Lady of the Rocks, locally also known as Gospa od Skrpelja, and as one of the most emblematic edifices along Montenegro’s coast, it is impossible to miss the sky-blue cupola and belfry.
It is one of Europe’s most picturesque Byzantine structures, perched above a small artificial island, and a beautiful sight to behold, especially when arriving by boat. Adjacent to the bell tower is a lighthouse warning the ships not to come too close as they pass through the Verige Strait. The Roman Catholic Church is well-preserved, featuring dozens of vibrant frescos and paintings by renowned artist Tripo Kokolja.
Verige Strait
The Verige Strait connects the outer with the inner Bay of Kotor. Yachts and cruise ships pass here on their way from Kotor and Perast towards the open sea.
The Legend Behind the Island Church
The story of Our Lady of the Rocks began on July 22nd, 1452 whilst the Mortesic brothers, two local fishermen, found an icon of the Virgin Mary on a rocky outcrop in the waters where the church stands today, and gifted it to the St. Nicholas’ Church in Perast. On the next day, the icon was missing and was spotted on the same rocky outcrop where it had been found by the Mortesic brothers.
The townspeople were convinced that god had reached out to them and swore that one day they would build a beautiful church around this holy location. It would stand as highly visible evidence of their faith in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. But first, they needed to build a strong foundation, which was not an easy task to begin with.
It took them almost 150 years to build the artificial island on which the church would later be built. They got creative with the construction materials, incorporating everything from quarry stones to Ottoman battleships, and it worked. By 1600, more than one hundred ships and tons of other material have been sunk around the island.
Once the foundation was stable enough, a modest chapel was erected to safeguard the icon of the Virgin Mary. When a new, larger, and more beautiful church was built in 1630, the old chapel was integrated into the structure. The new octagonal chapel with the blue cupola was added between 1720 and 1725.
Bay of Kotor
Discover the Bay of Kotor, a winding fjord-like inlet that connects some of Montenegro’s most beautiful coastal towns such as Perast, Kotor, and Herceg Novi.
A Spectacular Highlight of Perast
Enter the church and you’ll understand why many call it the most beautiful sacred site in Montenegro. In total, there are no less than 68 paintings by the 17th-century Baroque master Tripo Kokolja – the most spectacular being the Death of the Virgin, a ten-meter-long artwork depicting the death of the Mother of God, which was probably inspired by Caravaggio’s work.
The stunning white marble church altar is positioned directly above the rock face where the icon was originally found in 1452, which adds an extra air of holiness. Framed by two marble figures portraying Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Roch, the icon of Mary as the nurturing mother cradling the infant Jesus is placed in the middle of it.
The theme of the Blessed Virgin continues throughout the church, with 45 paintings on the ceiling showing scenes from her life, marked off by a golden spiral-shaped rope – the symbol of seafaring. The lower church walls contain scenes from the Old Testament and are separated from the upper parts by a row of votive silver plates.
Most of them have been donated by local seafarers in gratitude to the Blessed Mother for helping them weather heavy storms and dangerous encounters with pirates, and overcome life-threatening illnesses while sailing the oceans and acquiring a livelihood. Unsurprisingly, you’ll find many nautical scenes depicted on the plaques.
To this day, mariners salute the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks and the icon of the Virgin Mary with their horns when departing and upon returning to the Bay of Kotor. Many pray in front of the altar before embarking on long ocean voyages. But one silver votive tablet stands out more than the other one hundred or so.
This special plaque was gifted to the church by the townspeople upon coming out as the winners in the Battle of Perast of 1654 when they defended Perast against invading Ottoman forces that far outnumbered them. The victory over the Turks is celebrated every May 15th in an event called Shooting the Rooster and in light of these festivities, the icon along with this votive plaque are displayed for veneration in the Church of St. Nicholas on the mainland.
Perast
Finding aesthetic bliss in Perast’s Baroque heritage, a well-preserved Montenegrin coastal town, full of history and legend, with a line of picturesque waterfront restaurants.
The Museum
A boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks often also includes a visit to the adjacent maritime museum (there is a small entrance charge), which boasts a range of exhibits, bearing witness to the region’s long and fascinating history. Inside you’ll find Greek-Illyrian and Roman artifacts, Bronze Age stone tools, and hundreds of silver votive plates.
While the second floor is filled with an eclectic gallery of oil paintings, collected over many centuries by various donators., the most enthralling piece of art that steals the show is an embroidered picture of Mary Magdalene by Jacinta Kunic which took her 20 years to complete. The picture’s backstory is painfully sad and tragic.
Jacinta’s husband did not return from the sea and she waited in vain all these years, not losing hope, always having faith that her spouse would come back one day. To cope, she started to work on her piece of art, using her blonde (and later greyish) hair alongside golden and silver threads for Mary’s hairline. Her workmanship is exceptional and iconographically unique.
Events in Kotor and Perast
Discover the most popular events in Kotor and Perast, from the biannual carnival celebrations to the Fasinada, a traditional boat regatta to Our Lady of the Rocks.
The Fasinada
Every July 22nd, the Fasinada takes place in the stunning setting of the Bay of Kotor, attracting many visitors from all across Montenegro. In Perast, this 500-year-old tradition commemorates the finding of the icon by the Mortesic brothers in 1452. The Fasinada is a traditional fishing boat regatta, named after the rope (Italian: fascia) that ties the boats together.
The festive naval convoy is made up of dozens of beautifully adorned boats, loaded with rocks and stones, which are cast into the waters around Our Lady of the Rocks to fortify the foundation of the artificial island. This is a cheerful event during which participants chant traditional Boka folk songs and later attend a ceremonial dinner on the island.
How to get to Our Lady of the Rocks
From Perast Marina, you can take one of the water taxis for 5€ per person (free for children) return. You do not need to book in advance because the boats go frequently. There are also private boat tours available from Perast and other Montenegrin coastal towns such as Herceg Novi, Tivat, and Kotor.
Some local tour agencies (Pulena Boats and Adriatic Pearl Boats ) offer moderately priced package deals which include parking for the day in their parking garages and a return trip to the island. Our Lady of the Rocks is not wheelchair accessible.
Perast Parking Guide
Planning to visit Perast by car? This detailed Perast parking guide covers available parking lots, rates, and alternative parking options nearby.