Our Lady of the Rocks is a tiny island off the Bay of Kotor that is steeped in legend and continues to inspire yearly traditions in these waters today.
Just off the coast of Perast in the bay of Kotor is a tiny man-made islet steeped in history and legend. It hosts just one building, a 17th-century church with a beautiful turquoise dome that stands out tall against the mountainous backdrop, a truly stunning vision for those who are approaching by luxury charter yacht.
The islet is named Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela) and is one of two sets found off this stretch of coast in Montenegro, the other being Sveti Đorđe Island. According to legend, fishermen from Perast found an icon of Madonna and Child stranded on a rock in the sea in 1452 and promised to build an island there in its place.
Over time, after the successful end of each voyage, they would add another rock until the island was formed. The tradition is still celebrated today on the 22nd of July every year when the local residents take to their boats at sunset to throw rocks into the sea in an event called fašinada.
Fishermen from Perast found an icon of Madonna and Child stranded on a rock in the sea in 1452 and promised to build an island there in its place.
It is thought that the church that stands on Our Lady of the Rocks was built by the Roman Catholics in 1632, replacing a previous one that was Serbian Orthodox.
Inside the church is 68 paintings by Tripo Kokolja, a famous 17th-century baroque artist from Perast - the most prominent of which is a ten-meter-long painting named the Death of the Virgin.
There is also a famous embroidery by Jacinta Kunić-Mijović also from Perast which is said to have taken her 25 years to finish whilst she was waiting for her husband to come home from a voyage.
Each island can only be reached by sea and are well-worth visiting if you are in the waters of the Bay of Kotor. Take a look at the full range of yachts you can hire for a Montenegro private yacht charter to find the right one for your vacation. Alternatively, speak with a recommended yacht charter broker who can assist you further.
