Balović Palace

Balović Palace stands in the eastern part of Perast called “Luka”. In front of the palace there is a “boljun” (fresh water well) called Bizetina – with a terrace with a half-round vault above it – belonging to the palace. The palace was built in the middle of the 18th century. The Balovićs, who belonged to the “casada” Dentali, were mostly seamen, engaged either in the navy or private maritime trade.

One of the most important members of the family was Julije Balović (1672-1727), who was elected judge in the municipal administration for two terms. He distinguished himself as captain of Perast standard-bearers on the Venetian flagship, for which he received written public recognitions on several occasions. He is also famous for his literary activity and interest in historical research. Noteworthy is his “Chronicle of Perast” on which he started working in 1714. The Chronicle presents, in chronological order, the history of Perast from earliest times. One part of the Chronicle is today kept in the Parish Archives of Perast, while the second part is in the Scientific Library in Split. In 1693, Julije Balović wrote a nautical handbook “Pratiche Scrivanesche”. He was an ardent compiler of traditional folk literature and occupied an outstanding place among these compilers who were active before the time of Vuk Stefanović Karadžić (a linguist and major reformer of the Serbian language).

Balović Palace is a typical 18th century, Baroque building – simple but harmonious and monumental, with four storeys and a belvedere. On the ground level is a “bugnato” portal, flanked by two elliptic Baroque windows. On the first floor is a large portal with a stone balustrade at its lower part. Until its restoration in 1981, when it was adapted into apartments, the palace had retained its original layout – four rooms and a salon.

The family was renowned for its rich archives and library, which were taken from Perast, first in 1933 and then following World War II. In the summer of 1846, Petar I Petrović Njegoš stayed in the palace and there he wrote a poem “Paris i Helena” or “Noć skuplja vijeka” (Paris and Helen or A Night More Precious Than a Century).