Our Lady of the Rocks: The Legend Behind Montenegro’s Most Unique Island

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Our Lady of the Rocks – An Island Born of Faith and Love

You can’t pass through the Bay of Kotor without noticing a beautiful island—almost unreal, like it was painted onto a canvas of blue. Right across from Perast, in the middle of turquoise waters and open space, there it is—an island unusual in many ways: Our Lady of the Rocks. And I say “unusual” for a reason, because everything that has ever been said or written about it is something you’ve likely never heard or read before.

Today, I want to introduce you to Our Lady of the Rocks—the only artificial island in the Adriatic Sea, created out of faith, persistence, and gratitude by generations of sailors and locals. And of course, there’s a great love story here too—because nothing in this world makes sense without love, not even the most beautiful island in the sea.

Our Lady of the Rocks: The Legend Behind Montenegro’s Most Unique Island

The Legend of How Our Lady of the Rocks Was Created

Our Lady of the Rocks is a man-made island, which means it was built by someone’s hands and intentions—or perhaps by some higher force we can’t see. And I’d say, in this case, both had a part to play.

The legend goes that two fishermen from Perast, way back in 1452, found an icon of the Holy Mother of God on a rock sticking out of the sea—right where the island stands today. They took it and brought it back to town, but somehow, the next day, the icon wasn’t there anymore—it had vanished. And the strange part is, when they sailed the same way again, they found it once more, right on that same rock in the sea.

Believing it was a miracle, they decided to build a church on that spot—even though there was nothing but a stone sticking out of the water. The plan of the people of Perast was to throw stones around the rock for years to come, slowly creating an island big enough to hold a church.

lady of the rock
Image by Michał from Pixabay

This custom of throwing stones was eventually given an official date, and believe it or not, it still takes place today. It’s known as Fašinada. Fašinada is actually a centuries-old tradition of laying down stones, and over time, boats and barges were sunk there too—until the island grew to today’s size of about 3,000 square meters.

The tradition is still alive as a ceremony held every year on July 22nd at sunset. Boats decorated with greenery and loaded with stones set sail from the eastern part of Perast, move along the coast toward the west, and then head to the island. So, if you happen to be in Perast in July, you can witness—and be part of—something truly fascinating, given its history, persistence, and the time it took to create.

Almost two centuries later, in 1630, the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks was built—after which the island was named. Over the centuries it has been restored and expanded, and today it’s a true cultural and artistic treasure chest. Inside, you’ll find numerous frescoes and the famous votive tablets that sailors left in gratitude for their saved lives.

perast island
Image by Anton Toni Petricevic conte Montecason from Pixabay

And Where’s the Love Story, You Might Ask?

Love is tucked into a very special corner of the church, in the form of an embroidered work made by Jacinta Kunić, a woman from Perast who spent 25 years embroidering a tapestry of the Virgin Mary with Jesus. And there wouldn’t be anything particularly unusual about that—if it weren’t for the fact that Jacinta spent those 25 years embroidering and waiting for her beloved to return from the sea.

Her work was embroidered using seven different materials—gold and silver threads, Chinese silk, damask, pearls—and the most unusual of all: her own hair, which she used to embroider the hair of the Virgin, Jesus, and the angels.

Jacinta began the work in 1803, and finished it in 1828. She started with dark hair, and as the years passed and her hair turned gray, the color of hair in the embroidery changed too—which can clearly be seen to this day. She worked under a magnifying glass, using a technique called punto pittura—“painting with a needle,” with up to 650 stitches per square centimeter. According to legend, Jacinta eventually went blind, and no one knows if her beloved ever returned. Maybe that doesn’t even matter. Because what’s certain is that her love remained—and still lives in this church and on this island.

Image by Анна Семенова from Pixabay
So If You Ever Come to Perast...

So If You Ever Come to Perast…

Stop. You might not have the time, or even the chance, to visit the island. But do stop, and look out at the sea. And when you see the island—know that you’re not just looking at stone and a church.
You’re seeing a prayer in stone, waiting and hope, faith and endless love. You’re witnessing the power of people to make something out of nothing—something that lasts forever.

Where to Stay in Perast

 

👉 Check the best accommodation in Perast here

Tip: Since Perast is a popular stop, especially in summer, it’s best to book your stay early!

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