Our Lady of the Rocks
Our Lady of the Rocks is an artificial island in the Bay of Kotor, in the Adriatic Sea. Here are some details about it:
- Historical origins: Legend has it that in 1452, two sailor brothers discovered a rock about 2 square meters in size, bearing an image of the Virgin Mary, protruding from the sea. One of the brothers, who was injured, miraculously recovered. Believing this to be a holy miracle, they vowed to build a church. Due to the small size of the rock, they began throwing rocks into the sea from their boat. Other sailors joined in, and every year on July 22 at sunset, local residents take boats and throw stones into the sea to expand the surface of the island.
- Architectural features: The Church of Our Lady of the Rocks on the island was built in 1630 by Venetians. With a history of four hundred years, it is a typical Baroque-style church with exquisite interior decoration. The dome is completely covered with intricate reliefs and frescoes.
- Cultural value: The church houses a large collection of silver plates and 68 paintings by Tripo Kokolja. These collections showcase the development of maritime life in the Boka region and hold significant historical and cultural value.
- Tourism: Our Lady of the Rocks is one of Montenegro's popular tourist attractions. Visitors can take a ferry from the nearby town of Perast or the small Venetian village, and reach the island in about 10 minutes.