Perast holidays
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Holidays to Perast take you to a tucked-away town on the Bay of Kotor, where the look-at-me scenery features snow-capped mountains and teetering bell towers.
Good things come in small packages
This small-but-perfectly-formed town packs a lot into its borders. The single main street in Perast houses no fewer than 16 churches and 17 palaces. Over the years, some of these have become overrun with blossoming bougainvillea and wild fig trees. Others, like St Nikola Church, have been well-preserved and give you a glimpse into the town’s grand past. Plus, you can climb the bell tower of the church for panoramic views over the bay.
Bayside beauty
Perast was made for postcards. It sits at the foot of craggy Mount St Elijah, on the edge of the glistening waters of the Bay of Kotor. So naturally, it comes with some pretty spectacular scenery. And news must be spreading, as this off-the-beaten-track town has recently earned the celebrity seal of approval. Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas are rumoured to have bought a summer house in Perast.
Multi-cultural past
For such a small Montenegrin town, this place has always been in high demand. Before it became part of the Republic of Montenegro in 2006, Perast was passed between Byzantine, Serbian, Venetian, Hungarian, French, Austrian and Yugoslavian rule. Each era has left its mark on the town, which you can spot in its smorgasbord-like architecture. Under the wing of the Venetian Republic, the town reached its peak in the 18th century, so look out for Italian influences in the food and the churches.