Charming Perast, the town by the Adriatic Sea in Montenegro, is modest in size and has a teeny number of inhabitants.
Nevertheless, it is a very interesting place in terms of history and architecture. And Perast’s churches, built during the heyday of the city, well worth a tourist attention.

The Church of St. Anthony soars up the hill above the town. It is one of the four local churches with bell towers.

The church and the surrounding structures were built in the 17th century for the Order of the Franciscans. The members of this order arrived in Perast — by the invitation of its citizens — in 1636. The Franciscans opened a school for primary and nautical education, and a pharmacy — great improvement for the small town.

The Franciscans left the monastery in the last century, but the church is still working.

St. Mark's Church has a special place among the temples of Perast. It was erected by Matija Štukanović in the 18th century and was used as a burial chamber. Many noble citizens are resting here.

The facade of the temple, made of Korčula stone, is decorated in the Venetian Baroque style and bears the symbol of the Venetian Republic — winged lion.

There is a beautiful window on the pediment and a sculpture that depicts the risen Jesus Christ.

The Church of Our Lady of Carmel is another church that serves as a mausoleum. The age of this temple is unknown, but it was first mentioned in documents in the middle of the 17th century.

It was a private church of the honorable Balović family, and later its mausoleum.

The structure has several unique features. For example, the belfry is placed on the side, at the western wall, not above the main entrance.

The temple, consecrated in honor of John the Baptist, is located on the outskirts of the city, near the grand Bujović palace.

The gracious Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is part of the Zmajević family residence.

The facade is nicely decorated in the Renaissance and Baroque styles.

There is a coat of arms of the Zmajević dynasty.

The interior is quite modest, a marble altar has a central place.

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary was built by Andria Zmajević in 1678. He was buried in this church, and the tombstone with the dragon has survived to this day, you can see it in front of the altar.

Tall and refined bell tower.

This exquisite five-floor structure ends with a pyramidal roof.

The Church of St. John the Evangelist is very traditional for Montenegro.

The ancient temple is currently abandoned.

Next to it, rises the main Catholic shrine of the city — the Church of St. Nicholas. Once the spiritual core of Perast, today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions.

Tiny Church of the Holy Cross is not richly decorated either inside or outside, but is very old — it was built in the 9th century!

The only Orthodox church in Perast is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It was completed in 1757, and then reconstructed in 1864.

The temple is done in the Byzantine style with Baroque elements.

Our tour would not be completed without two gems located on the islands nearby. The first is the Church of St. George, once a part of the Benedictine Abbey.

The Abbey was first mentioned in the middle of the 12th century. Now it is deserted and the island is closed for visitors — you can only admire it from afar.

Lying a little more than a hundred meters from it, the island of Gospa od Škrpjela — Our Lady of the Rocks — on the contrary, is always full of tourists.

On this artificially made island — probably the only one in the whole Adriatic Sea — rises the Church of Our Lady, and it is a truly divine place.