Montenegro Sights

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1. The Islands of Gospa od Škrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks) and Sveti Djordje (St. George)

St. George's is a natural island but its sibling, Our Lady of the Rocks, is man-made. Folklore has it that in 1452, local sailors found an icon depicting the Virgin and Child cast upon a rock jutting up from the water. Taking this as a sign from God, they began placing stones on and around the rock, slowly building an island over it. By 1630 they had erected a church upon the new island. The original icon, which has been attributed to the 15th-century local artist Lovro Dobričević, is displayed on the altar. Over the centuries, locals have paid their respects to it by donating silver votive offerings, some 2,500 of which are now on display. The church is also home to more than 60 paintings by local hero Tripo Kokolja, one of the three men honored in Perast's main square.The other island, home to the Monastery of St. George and dating back to the 12th century, is closed to the public. In the 18th century the island became a favorite burial place for local sea captains, whose crypts remain today. Though closed to the public, you can snap photos from the shore or from neighboring Our Lady of the Rocks. To visit Our Lady of the Rocks, hop on a taxi-boat from Perast's waterfront (a five-minute trip that costs €5 round-trip); there is no shortage of options.