Sometimes compared to Venice thanks to its pretty perch, most of the action in this tiny town is centered around the waterfront which is lined with seaside cafes and restaurants, a towering old church, bountiful fig and palm trees, and colourful bougainvilleas pouring out of window boxes. Wander along the main promenade, duck into a few of the little shops, then turn your attention to the water–specifically towards two tiny islands, including one with a church built right on top of it.

That’s Our Lady of the Rocks, which was built to honour the Virgin Mary. The story goes that two brothers returning from a day of fishing saw a light on a small ridge, and when they got closer they saw an icon of Madonna and the Child. They brought it back to their church, but come morning the image had disappeared, and when they went back out to the water they saw the icon was once again sitting on the ridge they had taken it from. That prompted the villagers to build an artificial island and church on the same spot to mark the phenomenon, and from that point on when a ship would sail out from Perast each sailor would throw a rock at the ridge to ensure safe passage. Today, travellers can book a boat ride out to the island to see the church up close, and many tours also include excursions to the iridescent Blue Caves and island of Mamula.