Perast is the oldest, best preserved and prettiest town in the area. Sandwiched between the steep hill of St Ilija behind and the water, two tiny islands lie just offshore. Past glories have left behind 18 palaces, a couple of monasteries, numerous churches and the remains off 8 fortress towers. Not bad for a tiny town which now has a population of just 250.
The town dates back to Neolithic times. But by the 14th century, it was still just a small fising village, albeit with its own shipyard.
Then came the Venetians and things took off. The town became a major political and religious centre and was well fortified. It also had a highly prestigious maritime training centre, drawing students from as far away as Russia.
But it didn’t last. Napoleon’s defeat of the Venetians in 1797 saw the start of the decline. Since then, the Austrians, Italians, French, Yugoslavs and Italians (again) have all been in charge as Perast shrank once more to little more than a village.
Many of the palaces are now privately owned. Several have been converted to the hotels, including the Iberostar, Leon and Palace Jelena. However, the Bujovic Palace now houses the town’s museum.
The two islets are called Gospa od Škrpjela (Church of Our Lady of the Rocks) and Sveti Đorđe (St George). The latter houses a monastery and is off limits – monastery enthusiasts should insted walk up to The Old Catholic Monastery. Whilst you’re there you can also visit the nearby Fortress of St. Križa.
You can in theory take your yacht over to Gospa od Škrpjela to visit the church but you will face stiff competition from the trip boats. It’s much easier to take a trip boat from the town. It’s the only man made island in the Adriatic and the church is decorated with 68 paintings.
The other church worth a visit is the Church of St. Nicholas where you can climb the church tower for an excellent view.
Provisioning facilities are limited; there’s a mini market and a couple of fruit and veg stalls but that’s it. You will find a good choice of restaurants along the sea front and down the alleys.
And when you’ve dined, stick around for the superb view of the sunset.