Our Lady of the Rocks is a must-see tourist attraction for every tourist who visits Boka. This is the most important shrine of Boka Kotorska. Next to St. George Island, there is an artificially made island, made on a cliff that stood in the same place ever since the end of the 15th century.
Squeak or Scribble in the local * language *, means a rock.
There is a church and a museum on the island.
Legend has it that two fishermen found an icon (of Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ), which they gave to the city of Perast. More than 100 years later, the Perastans built the island and then the church, which became home of the icon. Our Lady of the Rocks became protector of all sailors from Boka who would go on long journeys.
July 22 is celebrated as a birthday of Our Lady of the Rocks and on this date it is possible to attend a manifestation called Fasinada – celebrated for over 500 years.
Inside the museum of the church it is possible to see numerous historical objects, from different epochs, that were donated to the island. Amphorae from the second century BC, weapons from the 18th and 19th centuries, over 250 paintings of ships and sailing ships that were called Our Lady of the Rocks throughout history.
There are also over 2,000 silver votive tiles, which hang on the walls of the church. There are testimonials brought to the church from the 17th century as a gift from sailors who survived a shipwreck or some sort of an accident on the sea. As a sign of gratitude to the Lady who saved their lives, the sailors brought tiles to this island. Of course, no one brings their votive tiles to the island anymore, but there are many other items brought from all over the world, such as car keys, helmets, and even a small glass from the JAT aircraft that in 1972 crashed above the Czech Republic when only a flight attendant survived the fall.
The vault of the church, the so-called Marian Cycle is the work of the famous Baroque painter Tripo Kokolja from the 18th century. Popularly called the Sistine Chapel of Boka, this vault was made by the same technique as the vault in Vatican.
Still, tourists visit the island mostly for one specific tapestry, a work from 1828. This is a tapestry made by a girl Hacinta Kunic, who waited 25 years for a sailor to come back from the sea. She used silk, gold and silver as main materials, and when she ran out of it, she used her own hair. The tapestry is made with incredible attention to details, there are approx. 650 needle stitches per square meter. Whether the sailor returned or not, we will never know, but at the end of her work, Hacinta remained blind. She gave the tapestry to the island Our Lady of the Rocks as a gift.
Ticket price for the island Our Lady of the Rocks
Ticket price is 2€.
Transport to the island Our Lady of the Rocks
Transport to the island Our Lady of the Rocks costs 5.00€ per person. It can also be found for 3.00€ per person if larger families are transported or visitors decide to take smaller boats. From the main waterfront, at the entrance to Perast, there are many bookers offering tourists transportation, at various prices. Visitors may stay as long as they wish at the island of Our Lady of the Rocks.
Author of the text:
Marijana Niković licensed tourist guide for Montenegro.
If you are interested in guided tours in English, please contact me at:
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