Perast

The little village of Perast is located just a short drive (less than 20 minutes) from Kotor. Tourists that decide to rent a car for their tour of Montenegro will certainly want to make the short drive up the E65/E80 motorway to spend some time in this lovely little fishing village.

Although boasting a population of only 850 people, the long and colorful history of this town certainly outweighs its small size. From 1420-1797, Perast belonged to the Republic of Venice and was known for its master shipbuilders and sailors. The town has many gorgeous reminders of the past, and some excellent examples of Baroque architecture. Travelers to Perast will certainly not want to miss the two islands which are the main tourist draws in the town.

St. George Island is a natural island just of the coast in the Bay of Kotor, and contains the St. George Benedictine Monastery, built in the 12th century. From the harbor, there are many small boats that will take tourists there for a few Euros.

Also, Our Lady of the Rocks is a man-made island which holds the church of the same name. The island was made by sailors from the town throwing rocks and sinking old boats and ships there. Every year this tradition is still undertaken, and on July 22 tourists can watch as the locals fill their boats with rocks to help make sure that the island remains intact.

The town also boasts numerous palaces, cathedrals, and several guard towers which once protected the city. For those interested in learning in detail about the history of this unique town, the Museum of Perast contains many artifacts, archives, paintings, sculptures, and town records. The museum itself is located in an old palace, Palata Buiovich, which many feel is the most beautiful building on the Montenegrin coast.

Located just north out of Perast on the road to Risan is the Banja Monastery, which features many ancient religious pieces from past Russian, Greek, and Boka dynasties. To get to the monastery, continue north on the E65/E80 for just a few kilometers.