Our Lady of the Rocks

Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela) is a small artificial island sanctuary with a Catholic church and museum, lying just off Perast in the Bay of Kotor. It is one of Montenegro’s key landmarks and a rare example of an island entirely created by human hands.

• The islet covers about 0.38 ha, almost completely occupied by the church, quay and a few service buildings.
• It is considered the only fully man-made island in the Adriatic, created by sinking old ships and piling rocks on a reef.
• Legend says the island began after seamen found an icon of the Madonna and Child on a reef on 22 July 1452.
• Every year on 22 July locals still hold the fašinada ritual, sailing out and throwing stones into the sea to reinforce the island.
• The church and museum hold large collections of votive gifts, more than 60 paintings by baroque artist Tripo Kokolja and the famous tapestry by Jacinta Kunić-Mijović, partly embroidered with her own hair.

• The Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks with its blue dome, baroque interior and iconostasis.
• A small museum displaying maritime votive objects, old weapons, amphorae and ship paintings.
• Panoramic views over Perast, neighbouring Sveti Đorđe island and the inner Bay of Kotor.

The rocky reef at this spot was known to sailors since the late 15th century and served as a natural navigation mark. According to tradition, Perast fishermen found an icon of the Virgin and Child here in 1452 and vowed to build an island.

In the following decades, local seamen returning from successful voyages scuttled old ships loaded with rocks and added more stones around the reef, gradually creating a solid platform. A church was built and consecrated on the island in the 17th century, then rebuilt and given its present baroque appearance with dome and bell tower after renovation in 1722.

Over time Our Lady of the Rocks became an important pilgrimage and maritime shrine of the bay: sailors dedicated votive gifts, ship paintings and silver tablets. Today the island forms part of the protected Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor and is considered within a broader UNESCO tentative framework, remaining one of the most visited sights in the Bay of Kotor.

Location: opposite the town of Perast, in the central part of the Bay of Kotor, around 12–15 km by road from Kotor.

Getting there: drive or take a bus or taxi to Perast from Kotor/Tivat, then switch to a small boat shuttle; the boat trip from Perast takes about 5–10 minutes.

Access: the island is only accessible by boat; access to the island and church is generally free, while entry to the museum section is paid separately (around 2 euros).

Visiting hours: in high season the church and museum usually open roughly from 08:00 to 20:00, though hours can vary with month and weather.

Visit duration: 30–45 minutes are enough to see the church, museum and walk around the quay; including the boat ride and a short stop in Perast, plan for 1.5–2 hours.

Best time: warm season from May to October; for a quieter experience, choose mornings or late afternoon, especially in peak summer.

Notes: in winter some tours may not operate and boat schedules are reduced; surfaces on the island are paved and exposed, so in summer a hat and water help, and modest dress is recommended inside the church and museum.