Tre Sorelle - Historical landmark in the Bay of Kotor

It originates from the 15th century as one of the few Gothic-style monuments in Boka Bay and the oldest building in Prčanj. The palace was occasionally used during summer months by the family Buća, who like many noble families had summer mansions in the Kotor area.
The palace Tre Sorelle is built of three almost identical units interconnected to the side walls with separate roofs. Having three roofs, three towers and three windows on each floor, it is a well-preserved example of the urban historical cities in Montenegro. The facade is decorated with typical Gothic windows. Within the palace, on the north side, there is a chapel dedicated to St. Jerome.

Like the whole area of Kotor and Boka Bay, every house and every place has its own story which makes part of the rich Montenegrin cultural heritage so not even this palace makes an exception. There are several versions of the legend which stands behind this mystical palace. The three sisters named Filomena, Grazia and Rina - or in some wirtings Nera, Bianca and Rosa, were in love with the same man – a young sailor Jerko from Herceg Novi. The sisters were well-known for their behavior, honesty, beauty and obviously by following their heart even when the circumstances and reality were not in their favour.
The legend says the sailor could not decide which of the sisters he liked the most, so he went on a long voyage to reflect and decide. The one who would wait for him until he came back, he would marry. The sisters waited patiently, always standing by their windows, carefully looking into every sailboat and hoping one of them would bring Jerko. Time was passing but expectation and hope didn’t so they agreed that when one of them died, the others would brick up the window, so that Jerko could see which sister's window is closed and know she no longer waits for him. There was no news of Jerko and nothing changed with time except their wrinkles. Soon, the eldest sister died, leaving only two windows of the palace open.

Finally, when the youngest one left this world, no one was there to brick up her window so it remained open. There is a verse of a poem which says that the third window is still attentively listening the waves of the distant ocean. Eventually, the palace was reconstructed and one of the owners opened another window. However, even with two windows open no one forgets the legend of this unfulfilled and sad love story. Someone might say that Filomena, Grazia and Rina wasted their lives hoping for their love to manifest, but the emotions are always overwhelming and heart speaks its own language which cannot be hushed easily.

Today, this charming palace is still breathing among other homes and stones in the area, whispering the famous story to everybody who is open enough to hear it and feel it. One thing is sure, this palace makes you think about hope, love, time and all the abstract terms which cannot be touched but only fully felt with our hearts. The name Tre sorelle today became often used for different brands and products since it is symbol of tradition, values and culture.