Perast’s main street runs along the sea, while the town’s history spans Venetian rule, art and seafaring. Its historic buildings, museum collections and islands offer different ways to explore this past.
Landscape and Historical Setting
Perast lies at the foot of 873-metre-high Sveti Ilija, opposite the Verige Strait in the Bay of Kotor. The town is part of the UNESCO-listed Natural and Cultural-Historical Region of Kotor; its historic architecture blends into the surrounding landscape. The Kotor region lies on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast and covers 14,600 hectares. It comprises two interconnected bays surrounded by mountains that rise quickly to almost 1,500 metres. Perast thus brings together a specific waterfront setting and a broader landscape.
Under Venetian rule, from 1420 to 1797, Perast experienced economic, social and cultural prosperity. The Sv. Križa fortress, above the town, was built in 1570. In 1698, Captain Marko Martinović established the first maritime school in the Balkans in Perast. The palaces also anchor the history to specific dates: Villa Zmajević, also known as the Bishop’s Palace, was built in 1664; the Smekja Palace dates from 1764 and is associated with the Smekja family.
Maritime History at the Museum
The Muzej grada Perasta is housed in Palata Bujović, a 17th-century palace. Its collection comprises more than 3,000 objects documenting Perast and Boka Kotorska from the 15th to the 20th century. The Kapetanski salon focuses on Perast’s maritime history from the 15th to the 18th century. The Ženska soba offers a different perspective, focusing on objects that document women’s lives and roles in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Other exhibits include nautical charts and ship models; the displays may change.
You can also encounter maritime art outside the museum. The Perast painter Tripo Kokolja painted the Church of St. Nicholas in Perast. His work is also associated with the interior decoration of the church on Gospa od Škrpjela, which contains 68 canvas paintings. These artistic connections complement the museum’s historical themes with specific works and places.
Gospa od Škrpjela and Its Works of Art
Gospa od Škrpjela is an artificial island that was created at the end of the 15th century. The present-day church there was built by the Venetians in 1630. Among its notable works of art is a tapestry by Jacinta Kunić of Perast: she wove it between 1803 and 1828 while waiting for her sailor husband, incorporating strands of her own hair. The island is also home to a museum and a Catholic church. The combination of island history, church architecture and textile art makes a visit a different way to engage with Perast’s maritime heritage than a tour of the museum galleries in town.
Waterfront, Views and Excursions
You can see the Smekja Palace on foot along the waterfront; it is also accessible when exploring the coast by kayak, boat or sailboat. Perast’s central square is home to the Church of St. Nicholas, next to a 55-metre-high bell tower offering panoramic views over the bay. Access conditions for the tower may vary; check them before visiting.
From Perast, you can take excursions to the islands of Sv. Đorđe and Gospa od Škrpjela. Excursions and arrangements may vary, so it is worth checking current options in advance. If you are planning your trip around Fašinada, note that it takes place every year on 22 July: at sunset, boats sail out and throw stones around the island. Event details may change; check the current programme before your trip.
When looking for a hotel in Perast, consider whether you want to spend your stay mainly exploring the historic buildings and museum, or also plan an excursion to an island.
Discover more destinations: Krimovica, Jaz, Ljesevici, Zagora, Donji Orahovac, Glavati, Risan, Dražin Vrt.
For the broader travel overview: Kotor.
