Saint George Island Montenegro – The Island of Dead Captains and an Ancient Curse title

Saint George Island Montenegro

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Saint George Island Montenegro: Legends, Lost Souls, and a Quiet Curse

If you’ve ever walked along the coast of Perast and looked out over the water, two small islands surely caught your eye.

The first one is Our Lady of the Rocks, a man-made island known for its beautiful church and fascinating legends (read more about Our Lady of the Rocks here).

The other, a little quieter and more mysterious, is St George Island — a place of ancient stone walls, dark cypress trees, and stories passed down for centuries.

Unlike Our Lady of the Rocks, St George is closed to visitors. But even from afar, it invites curiosity.

Where is St George Island and How Can You See It?

St George Island lies just offshore from Perast, in the heart of the Bay of Kotor.

The best way to admire it is from the waterfront promenade in Perast, where the island’s tall cypress trees and stone church rise gently from the sea. You’ll also get great views during a boat trip through the bay.

How Did St George Island Get Its Name?

The island is named after St George, the patron saint of Kotor. But its story began long before the church we see today.

Back in ancient times, St George Island sat much closer to the mainland, near the town of Risan. That all changed in the 6th century, when a devastating earthquake shook the region. Parts of the coastline collapsed into the sea, leaving the island further offshore and more isolated than ever before.

saint george sveti djordje ostrvo
A Place of Silence and Shadows

Unlike other places along the coast, St George was never a site of festivals or joy. For most of its history, it has been a place of solitude and sorrow.

The island’s only residents were temporary: monks, soldiers, or caretakers who lived there briefly — some leaving, others meeting their end beneath the cypress trees. Over time, people started calling it “the city of the dead.”

The Benedictine monks who once lived on the island planted many cypress trees — strong symbols of death and eternity. Though the island’s rocky soil and superstitions claimed that nothing could grow there, the cypresses took root and thrived.

And as if that wasn’t enough to add to its dark reputation, legend has it that a Pope once cursed the island after a priest was murdered there. Whether true or not, this story added to the island’s mystique — making it a place most people preferred to avoid.

A Short History of the Island

Historical records mention the first church on the island in 809 AD, when Benedictine monks greeted the ship carrying the relics of Saint Tryphon.
For centuries, the people of Kotor and Perast disputed over who controlled the island, until the Venetian Senate eventually took over and began appointing the abbots.

The island faced several tragic events:
In 1654, it was raided by Ottoman forces.
In 1667, a powerful earthquake destroyed much of the church during Easter service, killing many who had gathered to pray.

The present-day church is a simple stone building, with a single nave and a square apse. A modest bell tower stands beside it.
During the Napoleonic wars, the island also served briefly as a military barracks.

The Island of Dead Captains – Perast’s Historic Cemetery

For centuries, St George Island served as the final resting place for Perast’s most respected citizens — sea captains, noble families, and others who shaped the town’s history.

Inside the church, 72 tombs bear family crests and inscriptions from some of Perast’s most prominent families, including the Zmajević and Brajković clans. Outside, the graves of lesser-known citizens rest beneath the cypress trees.

This long history as a cemetery earned the island its most famous nickname: “the island of dead captains.”

saint george island montenegro kotor perast
The Tragic Love Story of Katica and Ante

But perhaps the most touching story from the island is a love story, passed down through generations.

In 1813, during the French occupation of the Bay of Kotor, a young artillery officer named Ante Slović — a Dalmatian from the island of Cres — was stationed on St George Island.

While walking through Perast, he met a local girl named Katica Kalfić. The two quickly fell in love, dreaming of a peaceful life together once the war ended.

But when the people of Perast rebelled against French rule and raised the Austrian flag on a nearby fortress, Ante was ordered to open fire from St George Island. Tragically, one of the cannon shots struck and killed Katica.

Unaware that he had caused her death, Ante hurried to the town when a ceasefire was called. There, he found Katica’s lifeless body.

Devastated by grief, Ante left the military, became a monk under the name Fra Frano, and spent the rest of his life on St George Island, watching over Katica’s grave.

When he died, the people of Perast buried him beside her. Today, two cypress trees grow side by side near the church wall — said to represent the eternal bond between Katica and Ante.

Famous Visitors and Artistic Inspiration

Over the centuries, St George Island has caught the eye of many travelers, rulers, and artists.
Legends claim that Illyrian Queen Teuta, Roman Emperor Diocletian, Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph, and even King Edward VIII of Britain stopped here at some point.

Writers and painters found inspiration in its lonely beauty. Some believe that Swiss painter Arnold Böcklin used the island as inspiration for his famous painting “Isle of the Dead.”

Today – A Quiet Island Full of Stories

Today, St George Island remains closed to the public. No one lives there, but its church, walls, and cypress trees continue to guard the stories of dead sea captains, lost love, and a landscape shaped by time and tragedy.

The best way to experience its quiet beauty is simply to admire it from Perast, watching as the cypress trees and stone walls rise gently from the sea — still and timeless, holding onto their secrets.

 

👉 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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