 Introduction
Tropea is one of the most beautiful towns in Calabria lies along the south Tyrrhenian coast, Tropea is a medieval cliff-top town famous for its first-class sandy beaches and the extraordinary aquamarine colour of the sea. . It overlooks a mirror-like sky-blue, crystal-clear sea, with its incredible rocks: “La Pizzuta”, “Formicoli”, “San Leonardo” and “Isola Bella”.
The wild, white, sandy beaches which snake their way into little grottoes and creeks are interrupted by valleys and fertile, rippling hills full of fruit and citrus fruit trees, onion and vegetable fields, lime trees, bougainvillaea, verbena, jasmine and other sweet-smelling Mediterranean plants.
On a clear day, the seaward views from the waterfront promenade extend to embrace Stromboli's cone and at least four of the other Eolians - the islands can be visited by motorboats that depart daily from Tropea in the summer.
Tropea itself has a fascinating historical and artistic profile, thanks to its patrician houses with their impressive entrances adorned by capitals with frescoes by important artists and to the numerous, ancient churches rich in sacred images recalling peculiar local legends.
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Arrival
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Otherwise, if you are coming by car from the North, you have to take the A3 motorway Salerno-Reggio Calabria and leave it in Pizzo. Then you can drive on along the Vibo Marina main road as far as Tropea. From the South you have to take the A3 motorway Salerno-Reggio Calabria and leave it in Rosarno, then you have to drive on along the main road towards Nicotera, where you will find the indications to reach Tropea.
History and Culture
Later, the Romans occupied the whole Calabrian territory and then, with the end of the Roman Empire, the region became victim of continuous invasions of Byzantines and Longobards.
Tropea, that had been under the Byzantine supremacy for a long time, was greatly influenced by this civilization, that was heir to the Greek one.
An example of this influence was the Byzantine rite, that had been in use for a long time and so the Latin believers built a church out of town, St Mary of the Latins.
While in Calabria the dominations of different populations followed one another (the Normans, the Angevins, the Aragonese and the Spanish), Tropea maintained its state property.
In the course of history there have been several attempts to subdue it, but they all failed, thanks to the strong opposition of the population.
In 1783 an earthquake and the subsequent epidemics led the town to a deep economic crisis while, during the Napoleonic period, Tropea became very important from the military point of view. Tropea is also known because it is Pasquale Galluppi's birthplace (1770-1846), a great Calabrian thinker.
Churches and Museums
Norman Cathedral
Norman Cathedral at the bottom of Via Roma, whose interior harbours a couple of unexploded American bombs from the last war (one accompanied by a grateful prayer to the Madonna), a Renaissance ciborium and a statue of the Madonna and Child from the same period. The central apse also has a much-venerated fourteenth-century icon of the Virgin Maria of Romania.
Santa Maria dell'Isola
The Church of Santa Maria dell'Isola is built on a limestone rock overlooking the water. Stroll out to visit the church on a path lined with fishermen's caves. Of Basilian origin, the church was remodeled in Gothic style, then given another face-lift after an earthquake in 1905. The interior has an 18th-century nativity and some fragments of medieval tombs. It is a remarkable sight on a nice day as its yellow and white facade stands out against the blue sky.
Museum Tropea
Devoted to traditional Calabrian crafts and trades (wood turning, olive oil making and so forth) and featuring dozens of meticulously hand-made mechanical models of Calabrian peasants going about their daily business.
(daily 9.30am-12.30pm, 3-8.30pm)
Places of Interest
Further around the promontory, Capo Vaticano holds some of the area's most popular beaches, including Grotticelle and Tonicello, both spacious enough to allow you to get away from the bustle.
Nicotera
To the south of Capo Vaticano, the road teeters high above the sea before reaching Nicotera, 11km down, built in its present position by Robert Guiscard. The Castello Ruffo here contains a small archeological museum of finds from the area and a collection of folkloric items. There's also a Cathedral, with work by Antonello Gagini, and far-reaching views south over the Piana, Calabria's second plain of any size, mostly dedicated to olive cultivation.
Troppa
Troppa, near Tropea, you can see numerous urban structures belonging to the 17th and 18th centuries as, for example, Baroque palaces with big courtyards and majestic portals, that are preserved almost integrally.
Events
The Onion Festival which is held every year in Ricardi, on 13th August, the onion from Tropea is famous in the world because of its qualities.
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