Date: July 22nd
Location: Kotor Bay
More info: Kotor Travel
This traditional event is known as the “Fasinada” in Perast, Montenegro. The name comes from the Italian word “fascia,” meaning ribbon or bandage, likely due to the way the boats are decorated with apple branches and stones tied together during the festival. During the Fasinada, religious officials and male descendants of renowned sailors and respected residents of Perast board these adorned boats, while women on the shore greet them. Each year on July 22, at sunset, accompanied by a traditional song sung by a woman, the boats sail towards an island. This ritual is a tribute to their ancestors, symbolized by throwing stones into the sea around the island.