After our morning swim, we will explore the town of Perast and enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the seaside restaurants. If you're a sweet tooth, I highly recommend the home made vanilla ice cream with pumpkin oil, burnt orange and fig jam at Conte. Truly delicious!!
Perast is truly a pearl in the Bay of Kotor, a charmingly elegant town; it does not draw attention to itself and is far less tourist trodden than Kotor’s Old Town. If you are more inclined to stray from familiar paths, Perast is well worth a visit. In just 20 minutes by car you can escape the crowds of Kotor Old Town and take in all that this small seaside town has to offer. Don’t let its petiteness fool you, it may be small but Perast is packed full of history. Perast was originally settled in by the Illyrians and heavily influenced by its Venetian inhabitants. The Republic of Venice owned Perast between 1420 and 1797 which is evident by its baroque architecture. Although only 1.5km long, this small but mighty town has a significant maritime history and naval traditions. Perast had its own shipyard which dated back as early as 1336 and reached the height of its seafaring fame during the 17th and 18th centuries, under the Venetian Empire.
Perast is home to no fewer than 16 churches and 17 former ‘palazzi’ or Baroque palatial residences. Just off its coast, Perast boasts two major tourist hot spots; the islet Our Lady of the Rocks which can be easily accessed by boat and St. George island, a final resting place for the famous sea captains of the area. Unlike St. George Island, Our Lady of the Rocks is man-made, formed by local sea farers from rocks and old ships, as an act of respect after finding an icon of the Madonna and Child. St. George Island is home to a monastery which dates back to the 12th century and although it is not open to tourists, you can get some great snaps of the island from the sea or nearby islet Our Lady of the Rocks.
Perast comes highly recommended by locals and travel experts alike, so take your time wandering through its streets, visit the bell tower and take in the views. Perast is well worth a visit if you want a Venetian experience without the crowds and is the perfect photo opportunity for some spectacular shots of the bay.
Yours in swimming,
Susan Berg
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