July 03, 2018 - Perast is a small coastal baroque city located in Southern Montenegro, at the foot of Kason Hill. The city is found in the heart of the Bay of Kotor, about 7,45 miles northwest of Kotor City. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Perast was known for maritime affairs, and its seamen were known for their skill and courage. In front of Perast there are two beautiful islands, one natural island called Sveti Đorđe (English: Saint George), and an artificial island, Gospa od Škrpjela (English: Our Lady of the Rocks).
Our Perast Day Trip advice is to start with a drive from Kotor to Perast. You can reach Perast with a local public bus, and the ticket is quite cheap. As soon as you arrive, you get that feeling of a small friendly fishing village.
Firstly, you should definitely take a boat ride from Perast to Our Lady of the Rocks island. Our Lady of the Rocks is an artificial island created by the bulwark of rocks and by sinking old and seized ships loaded with rocks. You shouldn’t miss the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks (Italian: Chiesa della Madonna dello Scarpello), which is the largest building on the islet. The interior of the church is decorated with 68 paintings by Baroque master Tripo Kokolja, a native of Perast. There are also paintings by Italian artists, and an icon (circa 1452) of Our Lady of the Rocks, by Lovro Dobričević of Kotor. The church also houses a collection of silver votive tablets and a famous votive tapestry embroidered by Jacinta Kunić-Mijović from Perast. It took her 25 years to finish it and boasts golden and silver fibres, but what makes this tapestry so famous is the fact that she also embroidered her own hair in it. On the right altar, there is a picture of St. Rocco, the work of Italian painter Tiepolo.
When you finish your trip around the church and the museum, you can stop by a small gift shop close to the church to buy some souvenirs, and a navigation light at the western end of the islet can also be a fun place to check out. After that, you should come back to the mainland to explore Perast.
The fun thing about Perast is that you simply can’t get lost with such a simple city map. One long street leads through the city along the coast, and from the stairs, you reach the higher points of the town. In the center of the cit,y there is a square dominated by the church of St. Nicholas with its impressive 55 meters high bell tower. The three-tier church has never been completed due to lack of money. Today in the unfinished church there is a treasury and a museum. Through the churc,h you can learn a lot about the history of Perast.
Perast has a lot of interesting landmarks, but one that you just can’t miss is the most beautiful Baroque palace in Boka Kotorska: Bujović Palace. Although it is a baroque building, you can notice the renaissance features, like the five arcades of monumental porches and calm five fund balconies. Baroque features are more pronounced in the wide array of mentioned arcades, in balustrades and decorative details.
The late afternoon is the perfect time for wine tasting and a delicious meal. You should stop by one of the many local restaurants with an authentic atmosphere, wide selection of traditional fish and meat specialties and delicious local wine.
