Our Lady of Mercy

What this place is

Gospa od Milosti (Our Lady of Mercy) is a small monastic islet in Tivat Bay, part of the Krtole archipelago opposite St Mark’s Island. It measures about 160 m by 60 m and lies ~800 m offshore; the north and west are very shallow (<1 m), so landings are made on the deeper southern side.

Key features

• 15th-century monastic ensemble – a church dedicated to the Conception of the Virgin and an attached residence around a ~400 m² cloistered yard.
• Cloister and stone enclosure walls – a self-contained garden court with outbuildings.
• “Island-cloister” layout – compact paths and concrete sea terraces for quiet walks and sunning.
• Part of the Krtole island chain in Tivat Bay; nearest neighbour is St Mark’s Island.
• Boat access only on the south – the sole approach with adequate depth for small craft.

What to see

• The church of Our Lady of Mercy and the adjacent monastic wing with its narrow cloister.
• Garden plots and seaside walks with views to the bay and St Mark’s.
• Surviving wall sections and the inward-facing service yard plan.

History

The site took shape in the late 15th century: first as a hermitic clerical retreat, later aligned with the Celestines under the Benedictine rule. Franciscans settled in 1524 and remained until 1800, after which the Bishop of Kotor assigned two priests to guard the shrine and serve the nearby parishes.

Records mention frictions with locals in 1738, and tradition recalls lightning damage in the early 19th century; the church was renewed in 1900 under Bishop Frano Uccellini. Today it remains an active monastic place with respectful, limited visiting.