Our Lady of the Rocks is one of two beautiful islets off the coast of Perast, Montenegro. Along with the Island of Saint George, the duo make for a spectacular sight in the lovely Bay of Kotor.
While the beauty of the tiny islands will entice you to visit, the unique stories behind them create an everlasting impression.
OUR LADY OF THE ROCKS
Our Lady of the Rocks is hard to miss while you’re out on the Bay of Kotor. Its sky blue domes and orange rooftop draw you in. But, it’s the beautiful interior, interesting tale, and intriguing museum that will keep you there.
Legend has it that the man made island was constructed over the centuries by local seafarers. After finding a picture of Virgin Mary on a rock in the sea (the current spot of the artificial island), two brothers made a promise. It was to lay a rock at that spot after every successful voyage.
Since they were fishermen, soon enough an island started to emerge from the sea. Later, a church was built and renovated through the years, creating the current location of Our Lady of the Rocks.
Keeping up with local tradition
There are three distinct customs that the island holds for locals in the area.
The first is the aforementioned rock throwing, which is still a tradition the town of Perast keeps. Every year on a holiday called Fasinada, the local seamen throw rocks into the bay.
The second is brides bringing bouquets to the church after their wedding asking for a good marriage.
Finally the third, which is the long established bringing of treasures after a successful sailing journey. Throughout the church and museum you’ll notice paintings, silver ornaments, and more. These riches were all brought as a form of thank you for a safe trip.
The ceiling of the church (left) and a treasure (right) in the museum.
You can tell it’s a special place when you step on the islet.
I feel like I have to mention the last building on the island. It was once a room of reconciliation, where locals from Perast who had an argument would go to quietly resolve their feud. All their sh*t talking could be done in a behaved manner. Funny enough, it’s now where the toilets are located. A fitting redesign if you ask me.
THE ISLAND OF SAINT GEORGE
I’ll start by saying that I’ve never actually stepped foot on the Island of Saint George. I’m not sure if tourists are allowed to and I never once saw a boat stop there. However, I felt like I had to include the miniscule island for it’s famed story. This is a basic summary of what I was told by my tour guide.
The tale goes something like this…
Years ago, when Napoleon was warring across the region, there were two sweethearts. A young man from the French Navy, and a young woman that lived in the seaside town of Perast. Despite being on opposite sides of the ongoing battling, they fell fast in love.
One day, the man (being a loyal soldier) was tasked with bombing the villages along the coast. From the middle of the Bay of Kotor, cannonballs were fired at the small town. Upon inspection of the damaged buildings within Perast, the man noticed a lifeless body amongst the rubble. If you haven’t guessed it by now, that body belonged to the young woman whom the man loved dearly.
Heartbroken and full of grief, he decided to bring the woman’s body back out to sea. On the Island of Saint George there was a graveyard, and this is where he decided to bury the remains.
As I failed to mention before, the small island was also home to a church to go along with the burial grounds. After the wars, and the pain he brought himself, the man hung up his coat to live the rest of his days on the islet. He dedicated himself to the church and tended the graveyard to be with his lover for eternity.
Supposedly there are names to back this claim up, at least that’s what I was told.
Is the story completely true? I’m not sure. Is it a beautiful one? In a sad and haunting way, yes.
How to get there?
Our Lady of the Rocks is an island, so the only way is by boat. Don’t attempt to swim here. Not only is there high boat traffic, but you shouldn’t enter the church in swim attire.
Almost all tours throughout the Bay of Kotor will stop at the island. They are well worth the price, and both informative and fun. I went through this company here, and had a blast!
If you are on a strict budget or are looking to just visit Our Lady of the Rocks, you can hire a speed boat. They leave from the Port of Kotor and range in prices depending on the length of the trip. The lowest priced trips I saw started at 10 euros (in 2021).
The legend behind the two islands is something I found absolutely fascinating. While it’s easy to spend your days relaxing in Kotor, it’s worth heading out on the bay for some unique history!
