from Donika Lulgjuraj
Perast is an old town in the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. It is located a few kilometers northwest of Kotor and is known for its proximity to the islands of St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks. Perast is located in the middle of the Bay of Kotor, only 12 kilometers from the Old Town of Kotor, 30 kilometers from Herceg-Novi and 80 kilometers from Dubrovnik. Therefore, many tours and day trips to Perast are offered from Kotor or Dubrovnik.
According to archaeologists’ assumptions, the first settlements appeared in the Perast area in the Neolithic; There are also monuments of the Illyrian, Roman and early Christian periods. The city was founded by the Illyrians, named after one of the local tribes – Pirusti. The first memories of Perast refer to the year 1336 when at that time it was a small fishing village, which had a shipyard and always had several merchant ships and fishing in the port. Perast has a long history, dating back to the 13th century. As a hub for ships, captains, and sailors, the small town grew steadily and gained wealth in the 16th century.
During a walk through the old town you can also admire the many magnificent villas and magnificent buildings, which have already been well restored. Within the old town along the narrow streets you will find about 16 different churches. Probably the most famous church in Perast and one of the main attractions is the Church of St. Nicholas. With a 55 meter high bell, it is the tallest building in the entire Bay of Kotor. Undoubtedly, the most beautiful attraction of Perast are the two small islands of the island of St. George (Sveti Đorđe) and Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela). Only Gospa od Shrpjella can be visited on a boat trip. Ferries depart regularly every 15 minutes directly from Perast. Boat trip currently costs 5, – Euro per person and can be booked near the Conte hotel and restaurant, where why not enjoy a lunch or dinner or just stay during your vacation.
Swimming is also possible in Perast. Although Perast beach is not one of the most beautiful beaches in Montenegro, you will still find a nice place to dive. The beach is located in the north of the village and the small section of the beach is easily accessible via a staircase. When walking down the main road along the coast, it is very easy to imagine a god standing on one of those ornate balconies of the palace watching from his fleet of ships, or a lady waiting for her husband to return from the sea.
Perast also has legends, one of them being the Romeo version of Juliet. According to this legend, in 1813, a French soldier comes to serve near the island of St. George and meets the Montenegrin girl. Here begins the love story between Francis and Katia, secret meetings and plans for a future and marriage. The inhabitants of Perast decided to rise up in the uprising and expel the French from their land. Franz was ordered to immediately throw a cannon and stop the uprising. Only this shot that was fired from the island of St. George, took the life of his love. City dwellers buried Katja. He decided to become a monk on that island to be always near Katie. Every night at her grave he lit dozens of candles. Once upon a time people did not see the light from the candles on the island. And in the morning they found the dead monk in the grave of his girlfriend. In his hand was a note asking to be buried next to his girlfriend The Catholic Monastery on the island of St. George with high cypress, which was planted by Franz, now serves as a refuge for Catholic ministers. Tourists on the island are not allowed. But every night in the tombs of Katie and Franz the monks light candles and this light is seen by the people, sailing by boat across the island. This is just one of the many legends that Perasti brings. Recently, the city of Perast has started to be used for organizing weddings, photo sets and everything else you need for a fabulous wedding.
