Perast

As part of the 16th String Festival – Perast 2025, Roman Simovic, renowned violinist and concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra, will lead an exclusive masterclass. The festival is tentatively scheduled for August.
This prestigious educational program offers young, talented musicians a unique opportunity to learn from a world-class virtuoso and gain valuable knowledge and skills for their artistic careers.
The masterclass represents a highlight of the annual String Festival, bringing international expertise to Montenegro's cultural scene.

Fašinada commemorates the creation of Our Lady of the Rocks, a man-made island in the Bay of Kotor. According to legend, the island was built over centuries by locals who placed stones around a rock where an icon of the Virgin Mary was found in 1452. Every year, the community honors this tradition by sailing to the island and adding stones to its shores. As a tourist, you’ll witness a vibrant display of heritage, community spirit, and scenic beauty.

What You’ll See:
1. Gathering at Perast’s Waterfront
Locals from Perast and nearby towns gather with small wooden boats decorated with poplar branches. The boats are loaded with stones, and the atmosphere is festive yet solemn. You’ll see participants preparing their boats and tying them together with ropes, forming a flotilla.

2. Departure of the Flotilla
The tied-together boats set off in a procession toward the island, moving slowly across the water. Participants sing ancient songs from the Bay of Kotor, filling the air with hauntingly beautiful melodies.

3.Circling the Island
The flotilla circles the small island, which is home to a historic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This act symbolizes reverence for the island’s history and its ongoing preservation.

From Montenegro (Perast), you will be able to see the nearly full moon in close proximity to the red star Antares in the southern sky. The moon will be near Antares on the evening of June 9, and the red star will appear above the moon's upper left shoulder as they both set beneath the southwestern horizon in the predawn hours of June 10

The annual International Klapa Festival takes place June 20-22, 2025, at St. Nicholas Square, featuring traditional vocal groups from Montenegro, Croatia and the region.

Schedule:

Friday, June 20, 8 PM: Children's Klapa Competition
Saturday, June 21, 8 PM: Women's and Mixed Klapa Competitions
Sunday, June 22, 8 PM: Men's Klapa Competition

Each evening includes performances of regional folk songs and award ceremonies. All events are free and held outdoors.

The International Klapa Festival is an event held annually during the last week of June, weather permitting. The festival gathers vocal groups (klapas) from Montenegro and across the region, including Croatia, Bosnia, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. It takes place over three consecutive nights at St. Nicholas Square, under the open sky. The first night features performances by female klapas, the second night by male klapas, and the third night brings both together for a joint performance.