Our Lady
of the Rocks
A man-made island with a 500-year-old church, floating in the turquoise waters of the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro. Built by the devoted people of Perast since 1452.
An island built
by devotion
On July 22, 1452, two sailors from Perast discovered an icon of the Madonna and Child on a small reef in the Bay of Kotor. For centuries, the people of Perast sank old ships and hurled rocks to expand the reef into a full island — a tradition still honoured during the annual Fašinada festival every July 22nd.
Today, 68 paintings by Baroque master Tripo Kokolja line the church walls, and a tapestry woven with gold, silver thread, and human hair — the life's work of Jacinta Kunić over 25 years — tells the story of one woman's devotion.
Read the full history
Paintings by
Tripo Kokolja
- Founded
- July 22, 1452
- Type
- Man-made island & Roman Catholic church
- Location
- Perast, Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
- Boat ride from Perast
- 5 minutes
- Admission
- €2 church entry + €3–5 boat
- Opening hours
- 9:00–19:00 (summer) · 9:00–14:00 (winter)
- Annual festival
- Fašinada — July 22
- Paintings inside
- 68 by Tripo Kokolja
- UNESCO status
- Bay of Kotor World Heritage region
Your boat awaits
5-minute ride from Perast. Daily departures, guided tours, and sunset cruises. Starting from €5 per person.
