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The historical area of Prcanj The historical centre of settlement of Prcanj which includes Our Lady’s Temple, the Franciscan Monastery and the Church of St. Nicholas, is the historical core of the settlement and the place where all important historical events occurred starting from 1730s when the monastery was built. The historical core of Prcanj settlement is characterized by a large concentration of houses and palaces in a small area lined up in the first row along the coastline. In some areas, the houses and palaces are placed on both sides of the street, which gives an impression of a very dense and very rich urban centre. The Church of St. Nicholas (1728-1735), situated in front of a pedestrian promenade by the sea, was the historical core of the settlement’s culture during the 18th and 19th century. The monastery of St. Nicholas was at first a home to a primary school, and after that it housed a very famous nautical school, the first pharmacy in Prcanj and a public library founded in 1861. Our Lady’s Temple, also known as the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the most beautiful and one of the largest churches in the coastal area of the southern Adriatic. Bernardino Maccaruzzi, a Venetian architect, designed the church in the late Venetian Baroque style in 1789. The construction of the church began in 1789, but it was completed after 120 years, namely in 1909. The construction of the Roman Catholic Church was funded by numerous donations of the wealthy captain families from Prcanj and finally it was completed with the aid of significant donations provided by the Austro-Hungarian government. Today, this is the most important area of the settlement of Prcanj and one of the most important areas of the whole UNESCO’s Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor. The landscape which surrounds this historical centre of Prcanj from the house Odmoriste towards the Verona Palace has been degraded in many cases due to the poorly planned commercial construction, which significantly jeopardized the outstanding universal value of the historical core of the settlement and degraded the integrity of the authentic cultural landscape. The proposal for its protection should contain an integral plan for the maintenance of the entire landscape surrounding the historical core of the settlement, from the sea to the hill that forms an integral system which includes art gardens, arable land on terraced estates, orchards, olive groves and planted forests between them. Taking into account all the areas that make up the visual background for the monumental Our Lady’s Temple and the Church of St. Nicholas, and defining the landscape of the invaluable importance, one can determine the area that would be proposed for the protection and management plan as a cultural landscape of exceptional importance. ​ HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kusevic, B. (2017). The historical urban area of the settlement Prcanj . ‘‘The Archive of Landscapes”. [date]. ​ BIBLIOGRAPHY . ​ BACKGROUND PHOTO. David Rumsey Historical Map Collection | The Collection; (1693) Disegno Topografico del Canale di Cattaro, Montenegro; Coronelli, Vincenzo (1650-1718). ​

MSc thesis ​ THE FORGOTTEN CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF BAY OF KOTOR. VALORISATION OF MEDIEVAL PATH AND RUINS IN PRCANJ. ​ In the last decade, the region of the Bay of Kotor, which has been a UNESCO heritage site since 1979, has become the area of severe destruction of the cultural landscape due to the excessive building industry. My master thesis, which was defended at Politecnico di Milano in July 2018, investigates and defines the particularity of the cultural landscape of the Bay of Kotor and provides a model for its restoration by involving common citizens in decision making processes. The medieval pathway, which is the main topic of the master thesis, has already been restored, cleared and opened as a light hiking trail in Prcanj and included into the comprehensive map of cultural trails of Montenegro. The Valley of St. Anna as cultural landscape of immense importance is going to be protected under the new urban study of Kotor municipality. New solar boats have already been introduced as sustainable water transport in Bay of Kotor, while the cruise ships as the example of unsustainable water transport was posponed during 2020. and the first half od 2021. due to the Covid 19 crisis. The positive steps towards raising awareness for protection of the cultural landscape in the Bay of Kotor are being made. To read more, click on the link below. ​ THIS MSC THESIS RESEARCH IN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN COURSE AT POLITECNICO DI MILANO, TITLED: ,,The forgotten cultural landscape of Bay of Kotor. Valorisation of medieval path and ruins in Prcanj’’ IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR, BOGDAN KUSEVIC, GRADUATE ARCHITECT, AND COMPLIES WITH ANY LAWS ON INTELLECTUAL WORK THAT ARE FORESEEN AND RECOGNISED BY THE LAW IN FORCE. ARTICLES 1 - 5 OF ACT 633/1941 AND AMENDMENTS. BY CLICKING ON THE LINKS BELOW YOU AGREE TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED LAW ON INTELLECTUAL WORK AND AGREE TO THE GENERAL TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY OF THE WEBSITE: ,, THE ARCHIVE OF LANDSCAPES'' Master thesis booklet (2018) by Kusevic, B. click above to open the booklet

Church of St. Anna - Prcanj, Montenegro Medieval churches like that of St. Anna in Prcanj, dating back to the 14th century, feature small-sized, not sophisticated, elegant proportions, as well as picturesque forms with a very interesting way of integrating into the landscape. In the Middle Ages, the Gothic style was not developed enough here, even though it was too much postponed compared to other urban centres on the Adriatic. However, the local sacral architecture, based upon centuries of development, has incorporated something of the medieval styles expressed mostly into the design of windows and doors. The techniques used at that time of building were very much defined, considering that they were developed by local craftsman rather than by professional architects or builders. ​ The catholic private family chapels like this one were numerous in the town of Prcanj. In ancient times the town recorded eighteen churches and family chapels, of which today just eight are still standing. The church of St. Anna is believed to be existing here since the 14th century, and the ruins of the parish house in the immediate vicinity are the most ancient remains of residential buildings in the town of Prcanj. The church of St. Anna is situated 100 m from the sea on the hill of Vrmac. It is single span with gable roof; it has a semicircular apse and a fragmented vault in the middle, as well as a bell tower. The church belonged to the Sbutega family and stands in the area that was called, in ancient times, Calme that means “calm, quiet”. In front of the church an ancient graveyard used to lay, whose remains are not evident any longer. Today, the interior of the church has not any frescos or painting and is plastered with blue colour which is much eroded by the passing time. The traditional techniques of Romanesque altar vault, domed with a monolith of perfectly carved white rock, and the stone-paved floor characterized the architecture of the interior of the church. There are also two small niches in the wall at both ends of the altar, and a holy water pot, integrated into the entrance wall, which is a very interesting shape. There is no evidence of when the church was built, but the style of the building techniques, the apse stone roof and the unique disposition suggest that it has been there since the 14th century. ​ The area where the Sbutega palace and the church of St. Anna are built is of immense importance for the entire region, because it still resembles the traditional way of cultivating the territory, and gives evidence of the features and style of the local 14th-century architecture. Sloped terraces of stone walls with olive groves and forests of oaks are typical of the cultural landscape of this area, which is closely related to this church and which is called, in the local language, Draga Sv. Ane, the Valley of St. Anna. ​ Today, it would be necessary to identify this sacred building as a target of careful restoration, since it could become a significant and lovely spot along the medieval path of Prcanj, an area of special landscape value among ancient olive groves and oak forests. The tiny church would possibly be used for cultural events, camera concerts, exhibitions, public talks and meeting about the preservation of cultural landscapes, as well as a tourist attraction. Moreover, it is located near the ancient Sbutega palace, dating to the same historic period; the palace itself might be the suitable venue of an Architecture summer school camp, for a restoration of the cultural landscape and rustic architecture of Prcanj; this also would be a perfect location for a conscious and interested public to meet and exchange ideas. ​ ​​​​ HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kusevic, B. (2017). Church of St. Anna - Prcanj . ‘‘The Archive of Landscapes”.[date]. ​ BIBLIOGRAPHY . ​ BACKGROUND PHOTO. David Rumsey Historical Map Collection | The Collection; (1693) Disegno Topografico del Canale di Cattaro, Montenegro; Coronelli, Vincenzo (1650-1718).

2007-2017 Prcanj (ita. Perzagno) cover photo: view towards Street of Lukovic Family in Prcanj Waves hitting on the stone piers- Prcanj, Montenegro - recorded by Bogdan Kusevic. april 2013 00:00 / 00:00 The town of Prcanj in Kotor municipality in Montenegro is a coastal town which traditionally relied on the maritime trade and such tradition has remained to the present day. Historically, the first mentions of it were in 1222 in the correspondence regarding the construction of St Johan Church. During the medieval age, the town was being developed in the upper level in the hill and it relied primarily on the local agriculture. Later, at the beginning of the 15th century, the town rapidly started to develop in the coastal region. Today Prcanj is well-known as a health resort, which was recognized at the congress of Yugoslavian pulmonologists in 1920s., and it attracts many visitors seeking for health improvement, sports training and family holiday in the peaceful scenery along the coast. It has a population of around 1,100. ​ READ MORE on heritage article ''Prcanj, Montenegro" Next

The old footpath Muo - Prcanj - Gornji Stoliv The footpath to the church of Saints Cosmas and Damian above the village of Muo The footpath to the church of Saints Cosmas and Damian above the village of Muo Ruins of old houses along the path towards the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian The church of Saints Cosmas and Damian The view from the path Muo - the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian Ruins of old houses along the path above the village of Muo Ruins of old houses along the path above the village of Muo The path above the former military complex in Prcanj The path above the village of Muo The access path Velja Rijeka - Glavati - Prcanj The path past the Church of St. Anna to Glavati The ruins of the Sbutega Palace – the Glavati cove near the church of St. Anna The view from the path near the cove of St. Anna The path past the church of St. Peter above Prcanj The path towards the ruins of the old parish church above Prcanj The path past the ruins of the old parish church above Prcanj The ruins of the old parish church above Prcanj The old parish church in Prcanj The path towards the locality Grasovo – Prcanj The path towards the locality Grasovo – Prcanj The view from the path Grasovo - Markov Rt The path towards Gornji Stoliv The path towards Gornji Stoliv The Church of St. Elijah in Gornji Stoliv The view from the path Gornji Stoliv - Markov Rt The old footpath Muo - Prcanj - Gornji Stoliv, which is believed to have been active during the Middle Ages, used to connect the old settlements in the hills with the settlements along the coast as there were no coastal roads yet. Its numerous access paths, going upward from the sea, in a form of staircases and sloping cobbled ramps, most often lead to the parish churches in the hill. The most important branches are the path from the village of Muo to the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, the path from the village of Prcanj in the locality of Grasovo to the ruins of the old parish church in the hill and the path from Donji Stoliv to the Church of St. Elijah in Gornji Stoliv. These footpaths branches had the important religious role in the life of the people in this region, so that we can even talk about their pilgrimage character. A typical example is a path to the old parish church on the hill above Prcanj, where a miracle-working icon of the Mother of God was located, before it was moved to the Church of the Virgin by the sea, and where it was visited on feast days by up to 6,000 believers. ​ A footpath in the hill, Muo - Prcanj - Gornji Stoliv, starts in the coastal part of the village of Muo. Near the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, this path branches towards Prcanj, and then extends above the former military complex, but it is mostly impassable. The path continues above the settlement of Glavati, passes by the old houses, and over Velja Rijeka and descends into the cove of St. Anna. Then, it runs by the old inhabited houses in the hill and continues past the ruins of the old Prcanj parish church and continues all the way to Gornji Stoliv. Unfortunately, the section from Muo to Glavati is completely impassable and unmarked, and it has not been maintained for years. This segment of the footpath should certainly be included in the Boka Kotorska hiking tour plan. This year, (May 2021) due to overgrown vegetation, a part of the footpath in Prcanj is not accessible, in the area of ​​Velja Rijeka - St. Anna - Mondov Potok, as well as part of the path in the locality Grasovo - Markov Rt - Gornji Stoliv. ​ The footpath Muo - Prcanj - Gornji Stoliv is significant in several ways for the study of the history of these settlements and it belongs to the most interesting ones because it offers several kilometers of continuous panoramic views of the Bay of Kotor. It passes further by the oldest remains and ruins of houses in the hill, built of the stone walls between one and two meters thick. These houses are the most visible in the upper part of the village of Muo oriented toward Prcanj. There are ruins of the old medieval houses along the path in the cove of St. Anna, then along the path after passing the Church of St. Peter in Prcanj, as well as along the path from the village of Muo to the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian. Likewise, there are numerous family chapels and churches on the route Muo - Prcanj - Gornji Stoliv, many of which are in ruins. ​The landscape value of the footpath is reflected in the authentic construction techniques, in the combination of steps carved into the rock and stone steps, in addition to the cobbled stone ramps, and high dry-stone walls that follow and change the level of the path along the terraced agricultural land. Such wall systems are most present on the section of the footpath from Muo to the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, then from Grasovo to the old Prcanj church in the hill as well as the site of Mondov Potok - Prčanj. The special character and the beauty of the footpath Muo - Prcanj - Gornji Stoliv lies in small altitude changes, as it runs through various types of landscape from rock and sedge, olive groves, pine, oak and chestnut forests to pastures with authentic agricultural varieties and old stone houses in the hills. The value of the footpath is also reflected in the numerous ruins of both residential and sacred architecture, which are a real asset for their future valorization and an opportunity to revive the "low - carbon" tourism and portray the authentic way of life of the people from this region from the ancient times to the present day. ​ ​ ​ HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kusevic, B. (2021 ). The old footpath M uo - Prcanj - Stoliv ‘‘The Archive of Landscapes”. [date]. ​ BIBLIOGRAPHY . ​ BACKGROUND PHOTO. David Rumsey Historical Map Collection | The Collection; (1693) Disegno Topografico del Canale di Cattaro, Montenegro; Coronelli, Vincenzo (1650-1718). ​

2007-2017 Medieval pathway of Prcanj cover photo: Steps of medieval pathway above Prcanj Landscape sound of summer morning in Forest Lekovina, Prcanj, Montenegro - recorded by Bogdan Kusevic. August 2009. 00:00 / 00:00 The area of the medieval path represents one of the few coastal areas in the interior of the Bay of Kotor, where the cultural landscape has not been attacked yet by commercial construction and where there is continuity from the sea Glavati to the top of the mountain (Spille River Canyon). The pathway is a proof of Prcanj’s historical development, of the time when the settlement was located on the upper levels of the Vrmac hill, resting on agriculture. A special way of treating the soil, preserving fertile humus layers, was achieved by the dry-stone wall techniques on terraced levels along Vrmac slopes. Moving from the sea to the hill, ancient varieties of Mediterranean fruit, such as citrus, grapes, olives, figs, are still present. These authentic sloped terraces of autochthonous agricultural varieties are still preserved below the area of the upper medieval path connecting the Church of St. Anna with the church of St. Peter on the way to the Old Parish church toward Spilla river. There are also centuries old oaks and pine forests in the zones between the agricultural estates, which are also planted as old villagers can tell. ​ READ MORE on heritage article ''Medieval pathway of Prcanj" ​ Next

2007-2017 Dobrota town of sea captains cover photo: Dobrota, seen from a family pier During the time of Venetian rule, Dobrota was an autonomous town, together with Kotor, Prčanj and Perast. The prominent families of Dobrota who marked the social and economic history of their homeland were Dabčevići, Dabinovići, Ivanovići, Kamenarovići, Radimiri, Tripkovići and others. Dobrota relied on maritime trade and at the beginning of the 19th century it was one of the leading maritime centres in Boka and the east coast, counting 35 ships with a total weight of 5,172 tonnes and having 443 registered crew members. Dobrota families became very powerful and all aspects of social and cultural life moved from Kotor to Dobrota. However, Napoleon’s conquest caused crisis in maritime trade. The naval blockade occurred, the ships were wrecked by the French and the English army and the old trade links were interrupted. The Austrian authorities did not bring much improvement, and the first attempts of recovery occurred after 1850. Next

The ruins of the Sbutega Palace – Glavati, Prcanj , Montenegro Historical and architectural analysis About a hundred meters away from the sea and about fifty meters above sea level, in a depression known as Pecarevo or Glavati, in the settlement of Prcanj in Montenegro, there is a building, now in ruins, which apparently used to be the residence of a noble family. There is little known about this palace, due to the lack of historical archives and any carved symbol, coat of arms or inscription on the facade. However, the building techniques, layout and architectural concept as well as materials and processing techniques demonstrate that it originates from the 14th century. The residence is located not far from the Church of St. Anna in the Glavati - Prcanj area, which is believed to date from the same period. In the fourteenth century this area was ruled by the Nemanjic Dynasty, then by the Kingdom of Hungary, and later by the Bosnian king Tvrtko I. In that time, there were no settlements along the coast, except for fortified cities such as Kotor, and they existed only on higher elevations in the hills as rural settlements that relied on local agriculture. The pirate raids, and then attacks by Turks and tribes from the inland, were frequent enough to influence the character of the residential architecture in the hinterland that was subordinated to the defense against the robbers’ raids. ​ The palace, i.e. its remains, as photographed in February 2018, consist of four walls of the main body of the palace and one annex from the upper western side, apparently the former stable. The front facade of the wall towards Kotor has been breached in the middle and to the ground, and the only thing that was kept is the niche on the lower right side to the former door. On the opposite side, there is a Roman-Gothic simple arch without profiling, made of unevenly placed stone thresholds, then the niche immediately next to the door and two window panes, the larger of which is very damaged. The Romano-Gothic portal above the entrance door, although damaged, provides the most reliable confirmation of the character of the palace and its dating. The door was made of solid wood and nailed with four pegs each in the stone parapet, whose recesses in the stone are still visible today. On top of that, there was a large beam used to barricade the door that was inserted in the middle of the door and in the recess in the wall to additionally secure the portal from robbers. The small niches next to the door had a very practical use as that was the convenient space where the vendors could deliver the groceries, such as dried meat and fish, without opening the main entrance, so the hosts did not run the risk of being robbed or attacked. Another small niche on the outside was most likely bricked up in later centuries. The single-pitch roof was inclined towards the sea. It is very rare today in this area as all the roofs are dual pitched. Judging by the roof of the nearby Church of St. Anna, made of stone, and looking at the other very old residential buildings, it can be concluded that the roof of the palace in the original phase was also made of the stone slabs and that was the autochthonous stone. ​Based on the analysis from the site conducted in February 2018, two stages of construction of the Sbutega Palace were observed. The first one would include a large and high ground floor and a low attic, with three window panes on the lower sea side, presumably for surveillance and defense against potential robbers. On the ground floor, facing the sea, there were two window panes, the larger one with approximate dimensions of 100/80 cm and a small one with dimensions of 40/40 cm. On the house front, facing Kotor, there was an entrance door with a portal like the one on the opposite side of the palace. The doors were placed symmetrically, because of the belief that if a devil entered the house, it would follow the straight line and leave it without harming the household members. Small deviations from the right angle when building the walls prove the tradition to avoid building the 'squares', as the devil crouches in the 'square'. The ceilings from that period were made of wood and leaned on stone consoles that were spheroidal on the bottom side and had a shape of an acanthus flower. In the attic, there were two windows facing Kotor and the two ones facing Prcanj, one of which was larger. The exit to the courtyard towards the hill was through a narrow door, that is walled up now, but once served as an exit to an outbuilding, most likely a stable. The second phase of the construction brought radical changes in the interior. Namely, the high ground floor was divided into two floors in order to expand the accommodation capacity due to the increase of the family, at the expense of walling up of three windows and the upper door towards the hill with stone consoles holding the beams. The changes are also visible on the Roman-Gothic portal, as it had to be walled up to the arch in order to lower the ceilings, which is still visible today. In the second phase of the palace development, the ceilings were lowered, leaving about 200 cm of free space to the beams. The processing of stone windows without separate parapet openings on all window panes, and their presence only on openings of larger dimensions suggests a staged, successive development of the palace and frequent renovations. The palace in its base has dimensions of 9.5m by 6m, which is more than the average size of the house in this region and shows the owner`s wealth. The Church of St. Anne, which, judging by the analogies, comes from the same period can be considered to have been a family chapel. The location of Glavati is of the great importance for the entire area of ​​Prcanj, due to its historical as well as natural and environmental value. Saint Anna's Valley is a region with all the characteristics of a cultural landscape. The stone walls, sloping along the Sbutega estate, with terraces still used for olive growing, then the old medieval path across Prcanj that once connected Prcanj with Kotor, Stoliv and Lepetani are the real sources for learning about the way of life in the past. The presence of several layers of architecture, both Romano-Gothic in the hills and Renaissance-Baroque on the coast, as well as Austro-Hungarian road construction on the coast, and the indigenous way of processing the landscape with canalized streams and terraced gardens, represents an exceptional argument for the valorization of this valley as a cultural landscape of great importance for UNESCO's Natural, Cultural-Historical Region of ​​Kotor. Activating this palace for cultural purposes, and according to the opinion of the residents, valorizing it for the purpose of a summer camp for the students of architecture who will work on the regeneration of the landscape and the maintenance of medieval paths and monuments, and receive a certificate for the authentic construction of Boka Kotorska under the mentorship of restorers, would be of great importance for the entire area of ​​Kotor. Finally, it would also provide an insight into the great potential of sustainable development, as well as the mutual benefits to both, the workshop participants and the property owners, who would be paid a fee, in addition to the service of free maintenance of the property. Thus, the entire area would gain greater recognition and importance and become a model of the approach to the regeneration of the cultural landscape of the entire area of ​​Kotor. ​Unfortunately, the construction in this area started with infrastructure works and has already destroyed a whole section of gardens with terraces and a walled stream, and threatens to devalue the entire area, which is a unique enclave of cultural landscape stretching from the sea all the way to the hills. The valley of St. Anna - Glavati is an immensely valuable area that bears witness to the historical development of rural agglomerations along the coast of Boka Kotorska. Because of its valuable authentic landscape, as well as its historical, landscape and natural value, creating an HIA study on the impact on the cultural heritage during current spatial interventions must be a matter of urgency in order to preserve its exceptional universal value, which it possesses as part of the area of ​​Kotor protected by UNESCO. ​ ​ ​ HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kusevic, B. (2017). The ruins of the Sbutega Palace – Glavati, Prcanj , Historical and architectural analysis ‘‘The Archive of Landscapes”. [date]. ​ BIBLIOGRAPHY . ​ BACKGROUND PHOTO. David Rumsey Historical Map Collection | The Collection; (1693) Disegno Topografico del Canale di Cattaro, Montenegro; Coronelli, Vincenzo (1650-1718).

About the palace of ,,Tre Sorelle'' Prcanj, Bay of Kotor, Montenegro The Palace of the Three Sisters is the best-preserved example of Gothic profane architecture outside the urban historical cities in Montenegro. It is situated in the town of Prcanj in Montenegro, on the waterfront of the Bay of Kotor. At the time when the palace was built, Prcanj was a very attractive place where wealthy noble families from Kotor resided. It is not clear when exactly it was built due to the lack of archival material, but it is sure that it existed here in 1500s when it was mentioned in the archive in Kotor as Villa Trium Sororum. Historians date the palace to the beginning of the 15th century. In 1688, the entire area was already known as Le Tre Sorelle at the map of Disegno Topografico del Canale di Cattaro, Montenegro; Coronelli, Vincenzo (1650-1718). Its architectonic concept is quite unique. However, the attractive architectural design of the palace has been questioned by the researchers arguing that its present shape could not be the original one. This conclusion is based on non-identical styles of building techniques and the fact that the middle section is slightly inclined, suggesting that the concept of the palace has drastically changed over time. The palace is divided into three sections like a castle with towers which have three roofs and three windows on every level. The Gothic vaults and Gothic windows with the emblem of the noble family “Buca” from Kotor, the existence of a family chapel of St. Jeronimo on its right side and the unique architectonic concept has placed this palace on the top level of national protection. In spite of this, nothing has been done so far for improvement of management and protection of this palace and today it is standing without windows and is left on the ravages of time. The palace is a private property, and a housing purpose is assigned to it in its management plan, which has been done completely unjustly, disregarding its historical value and the connection it has had in the collective memory of the indigenous population over the past 500 years. During the last decade, it has been subjected to non-professional restoration. In the course of this process, one of the sealed window was opened, which resulted in ruining the gothic plastics and spoiling the relation of the local people to the Story of Three Sisters and the windows that were sealed up when they passed away. ​ ​ ​ HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kusevic, B. (2017). About the palace of "Tre Sorelle" from Prcanj . ‘‘The Archive of Landscapes”. [date]. ​ BACKGROUND PHOTO David Rumsey Historical Map Collection | The Collection; (1693) Disegno Topografico del Canale di Cattaro, Montenegro; Coronelli, Vincenzo (1650-1718). Story of "Three Sisters"

2007-2017 Perast (ita. Perasto) cover photo: Perast, the town of sea captains Perast was at its peak in the 18th century under the Venetian Republic, when it had as many as four active shipyards, a fleet of around one hundred ships, and 1,643 residents. The 1,500 citizens of Perast were allowed to trade with large ships and to sell goods without tax on the Venetian market, which made them wealthy. The example of the wealth of people from Perast at the end of the 18th century is the fact that they managed to collect 50,000 Venetian gold coins (about 200 kg of gold) to pay the famous Venetian constructor Giuseppe Beati to build for them the highest campanile (55 m) on the East-Adriatic coast. There are two small islands near Perast: St George Island with the small church from the 12th century and the artificial island called Gospa od Skrpjela (in Venetian: Madonna dello Scarpello) which has a very interesting story. Namely, the locals had been throwing rocks and sinking old shipwrecks for 200 years from the reef whose top was 1 meter above the water's surface, thus creating a plateau of 3,030 square meters, on which they then built a church. Next