Kotor Shore Excursion: Private Tour to Perast Town - Our Lady of The Rock - Cathedral of St Nikola - Kotor Old Town

You will be met at Kotor Port by your professionally trained guide and drive through the areas of the inner part of the Gulf of Kotor (Boka Kotorska) with its high mountains and scenic coastline dotted with little villages. This amazing landscape was created 300,000 years ago by tectonic forces crashing together and creating the "Fjords of the Mediterranean." The little town of Perast is situated in the shadow of St. Elijah Hill which towers more than 2800 feet above it. This was one of the earliest inhabited areas in this region based on remains discovered above the village that date from the Neolithic (3500 BC) period. This once sea-faring town has grown into a modern town with a foot in its past. The two islands in front of Perast are the most photographed view in the central place of this fjord. Your guide will discuss with you an optional visit to the cathedral of St. Nikola in Perast, after which guests have free time to explore. Another option is to book a boat over to the island "Our Lady of The Rock" for a view from a different angle. The boat cost is not included in your tour and is around 4-5 Euro per person. The island's original church was built in the mid-15th century and was of modest proportions. Over the centuries, the "island" was constantly enlarged and reinforced by both deposits of stones and scuttled sailing ships until it provided a sufficient base for a bolder architectural undertaking. Most of the present-day church was erected after the great earthquake of 1667 when the original sanctuary was destroyed. It is a single-nave, modestly proportioned church in the Byzantine style. An octagonal 11m domed presbytery and a bell tower were added circa 1725. These gave the Our Lady of the Rock the distinctive baroque appearance that can be seen today. The church of Our Lady of the Rock also possesses a museum with rich collection of stone monuments. You will return to Kotor where you will depart your transportation and take a stroll through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kotor. The town was first mentioned in 168 BC, and was settled during Ancient Roman times, when it was known as Acruvium, It has been fortified since the early Middle Ages, The city became part of the Venetian Republic in 1420 and except for two periods of Ottoman rule, it remained under Venice until 1797, It is these four centuries of Venetian domination that have given the city the typical Venetian architecture. It served as a naval base during World War I and luckily avoided any serious damage from either World War. Kotor has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic and is home to several sights of interest, including the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, and the ancient walls which stretch for 3 miles on the steep hillside directly above the city. Your tour ends within the ancient city. From here, your guide can make suggestions for further sightseeing, shopping or the gate that leads to the cruise pier across the street from the Old Town.