Zmajević Palace

Zmajević Palace is situated in the western part of Perast. The palace is referred to as the “Bishopric” because it served as a residence for two bishops, Andrija and Vicko Zmajević. The palace, with an octagonal belfry and a family chapel dedicated to the Lady of the Rosary, represents the most distinctive landmark in the landscape of Perast and its most valuable architectural entity. The palace was built in several phases, acquiring its final Baroque appearance at the time of Andrija Zmajević. This final transition is noted on an inscription on the façade which makes reference to 1664. The palace, which was built on a rock, using local stone, represents an excellent marriage of architecture and natural rock. The symmetrical placement of the palace with the centre protruding over a rock cave, wings supported by strong bearing walls and a magnificent external staircase, give the impression that the palace was built all at once. However, it was built in several stages: the original defensive tower, which today represents the central part of the palace, has been extended towards the hill, which was followed by the construction of the north and south wings. The palace was fresco painted by the famous Baroque painter of Perast, Tripo Kokolja, whose patron was Bishop Andrija Zmajević.

The palace originally housed the library of the Zmajević’s, said to be one of the largest in Dalmatia. The library was taken from Perast and housed in Burović Palace in Herceg Novi where it was destroyed in a fire in 1806. In 1876, the roof was removed from the palace and it was left to ruin.

The Zmajevićs are one of the most famous families of Perast, originating from the village of Vrba in Njeguši. They belonged to the “casada” Perojević. The family coat-of-arms depicts a winged dragon and a star, placed above two crossed feathers, a symbol of the “casada” Perojević. The Zmajević family provided some of the most important persons of Perast.
Andrija Zmajević (1624-1694), received his elementary education at the Franciscan monastery in Perast. He completed studies of theology and philosophy in Rome and received a doctorate in theology and philosophy. In 1671, Pope Clement X appointed him Archbishop of Bar and primate of Serbia. In his “Church Chronicle”, he presented his family’s history. He was among the first collectors of local folk poetry, poetry of Dubrovnik, “bugarštice” (a specific type of oral song with a long verse line of fifteen or sixteen syllables), etc. He died in 1694 in Perast where he was buried in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Vicko Zmajević (1670-1745) was a nephew of Andrija Zmajević. He received a doctorate in philosophy and theology in 1685. In 1701, Pope Clement XI appointed him Archbishop of Bar. He was also entrusted with the duty of Apostolic Nuncio for Albania, Macedonia and Serbia. He was a patron of writers and collector of folk poetry. He was an exceptionally talented poet himself. In 1694, he published a collection of poems in Latin “Musarum Chorus in Laudem Antonii Zeni”.
He also wrote the “Specchio della Verita” (The Mirror of Truth). He died in 1745 and was buried in the Church of Our Lady of Kaštel in Zadar.
Matija Zmajević (1680-1735), one of the most famous members of the Zmajević family, a nephew of Andrija Zmajević who was Archbishop of Bar and primate of Serbia, and a son of the famous seaman Krsto (Krilo) Zmajević. By the age of 18, Matija was already a ship commander. In 1712 he left for Russia, for St. Petersburg, where he, being a nautical expert, entered the service of Peter the Great. During this service he spent some time in Finland where he distinguished himself in the battles against the Swedes and acquired the position of a rear admiral and a vice admiral of the Russian Baltic fleet. He died in Tavrovo in 1735 and was buried in a catholic church in Moscow.