Saint George Island and Our Lady of the Rocks in the Bay of Kotor, Perast, Montenegro

A legendary islet. Our Lady of the Rocks, Montenegro

Local legend here in Perast, Montenegro, has it that two brothers were returning from a dangerous sea voyage in 1452 when they spotted an icon of the Virgin Mary and Child in the waters near Saint George, a natural island in the Bay of Kotor. One of the brothers had injured his leg on the journey, but in the morning it had healed. Taking this as an omen, they vowed to honour the Virgin Mary by building her a church on the spot where they’d spotted the painting. They began dropping stones there and a tradition was born. Over decades, the fishermen of Perast would drop a stone in the water at that spot before heading to sea.

Over time, an island rose out of the bay and a church was erected on it. The centuries since have seen tumult, war, pirate attacks and at least one devastating earthquake, but Our Lady of the Rocks still stands. The tiny isle continues to grow, as each summer on the evening of 22 July, the town celebrates Fašinada, a ritual procession of barges and boats that take more stones to Our Lady of the Rocks. The church is decorated with 68 frescos by the artist Tripo Kokolja (1661-1713) and boasts more than 2,500 silver votives – decorated tablets - donated by locals.