MONTENEGRO


Adriatic jewel


The first of two annual overseas Retreats sees Aspire whisk 22 luxury agents and 17 suppliers to Montenegro. Charlotte Brook reports


A


Ì wÀÃÌ }l>nVi] Ìhi inÌÀ>nVi Ìo Ìhi hÕÀVh ov "ÕÀ >`Þ ov čn}ilà m>Þ Ãiim Õn>ÃÃÕmin}] LÕÌ >à Üi `iÃVin` Ìhi n>ÀÀoÜ ÃÌoni ÃÌi«Ã >n` imiÀ}i inÌo > ÃiÀini] hi``in VoÕÀÌÞ>À`] Ìhi l>n`ÃV>«i ià >nÞÌhin} LÕÌ° ivoÀi Õà ÃÌÀiÌVhià > ë>Àklin} iÝ«>nÃi ov V>lm Ü>ÌiÀà vÀ>mi` LÞ Ìhi j>}}i` «i>kà ov Ìhi in>ÀiV čl«Ã° iÃÌli` LiÌÜiin /iÛ>Ì >n` oÌoÀ] Ìhià ÌÀ>nµÕil inVl>Ûi viilà liki > Üill-ki«Ì ÃiVÀiÌ] knoÜn onlÞ Ìo > voÀÌÕn>Ìi viÜ] iÛin >mon} loV>lð It’s an idyllic spot to gaze across the Bay of Kotor – locally known as Boka Bay – towards one of Montenegro’s more frequented sites, Our Lady of the Rocks. Here, a solitary church is perched atop a man-made island in the midst of the sea, its cerulean cupola mirroring the hue of the still waters. We sip on glasses of champagne as our guide, Nataša Velimirovic, recounts the island’s history,


which dates back to the 15th century. º/hi li}in` Ìillà ov ÌÜo wÃhiÀmin]


brothers from Perast, who were lost at sea in dense fog until they miraculously found a painting attached to a rock in the bay, radiating divine light, which guided them safely back home. However, during the night, the painting returned to the middle of the sea, sending the message that it was meant to remain there to help all stranded Ãi>v>ÀiÀÃ wn` Ìhi li}hÌ Ìo Ì>ki Ìhim homi°» Honouring this sign, the people of Perast embarked on a centuries-long endeavour to build an island with a church to house the sacred artwork of the Virgin Mary and Child. For more than 200 years, they cast stones into the bay and sank old ships until the island emerged from the depths of the sea. Even today, this tradition endures: every July 22 at sunset, locals sail to the island to throw rocks into the water during the ceremonial fašinada, ª


74 ASPIRE JANUARY 2025


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