May, 15 - Shooting a Cock Tradition

In the center of Perast, there is a square (“piazza”) dominated by St. Nicholas with its impressive 55 m high clock tower. The existing church dates back from the 17th century. On the western wall of the church, there is a memorial plaque with inscription carved into stone in the native language, and placed in honor of the victory of the small-numbered populace of Perast in the battle against Turks, which took place on 15th May 1654. Since then, in honor and memory of such glorious victory, every year, for centuries a competition was held in front of a church to shoot a rooster that was chained to a boat and floated in the sea. Last few years, because of animal defense societies, the event goes on without that cruel part.