Lungo la costa tirrenica della Calabria, in provincia di Vibo Valentia, si trova Tropea, una località nota per il suo mare e le sue spiagge. Tropea si erge in alto lungo la costa di Briatico ed è risultato vincitore anche dei “borghi dei borghi”. La costa di Tropea è ricca di insenature e calette, oltre a grotte semisommerse.
It welcomes a refined tourism that loves beautiful beaches and crystal-clear sea. However, Tropea also hides much more starting from its historic center going through its delicacies such as the famous “red onion of Tropea” with long characteristics and sweet taste.
1 Historic Center of Tropea
The town of Tropea is a succession of streets and alleys and its historic center is a place absolutely worth exploring. You can take advantage of a few hours to delve into the heart of the Calabrian city, which features architecture with distinctive Arab and Norman signs but also with Baroque influences. To visit the historic center of Tropea, it is advisable to park in piazza Vittorio Veneto and then enter Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the street where most of the shops and bars are located. From here you can follow the various alleys that open up until you reach the Cathedral, which dates back to the 1100s with a porch from a later period (around 1300). In the square of the Duomo there are three interesting palaces: palazzo D’Aquino, palazzo Zinnato, and palazzo Barone. In piazza d’Ercole, along the main street, is the tourist office of the Calabrian town.
2 Port of Tropea
At the end of the course, in piazza Migliarese, you can enjoy the view of the port and the sandy beaches on both sides. From here you can see the Eolian islands which you can also reach with a boat rental in Tropea, in the small harbor that has 600 boat moorings and is located at the foot of the cliff.
3 Beaches of Tropea
It is undisputed that the Calabrian Tyrrhenian town is mainly known for its beaches and crystalline sea. Along the Coast of the Gods, of which Tropea is a part, there are coves, caves, descents, and stunning viewpoints. The sea of Tropea shows shades of blue, green, and turquoise. A variety of colors that delight anyone who gazes upon this place. The beaches of Tropea are all reachable by stairs and paths starting from different points of the town: Duomo, Convento, Rione Borgo, and Largo Galluppi. Among the most beautiful and well-known beaches of Tropea are:
- Rotonda Beach, outlined by the San Leonardo rock;
- Linguata Beach;
- Convento Beach, also called Marina dell’Isola;
- Cannone Beach;
- Occhiale Beach;
- Isola Bella Beach;
- Passo Cavalieri Beach;
- Palombaro Cave.
5 Beaches around Tropea
- The beaches of Parghelia (Michelino, La Grazia, etc.) 2 km from Tropea;
- The bay of Riaci, the Petri du Mulino beach and Scalèa, 2 Km from Tropea;
- The beaches of Zambrone (Paradise of the South, seafront), 5 km from Tropea;
- The beach of Formicoli 4 km from Tropea;
- The beach of Torre Marino 7 km from Tropea;
- The Praia i Focu beach at Capo Vaticano, 9 Km from Tropea;
- The Tono beach at Capo Vaticano, 9 Km from Tropea;
- The Grotticelle bay at Capo Vaticano, 10 km from Tropea;
- The Santa Maria bay at Capo Vaticano, 10 km from Tropea.
6 Cathedral of Tropea
The Cathedral of Tropea is dedicated to Mary Most Holy of Romania. It dates back to the Norman era although it has been repeatedly modified and restored in more recent times, especially after the devastating earthquake of 1783. The part of the apse was rebuilt. It features three naves and several valuable works such as the Madonna of the People, a statue from 1555 created by Fra’ Agnolo da Montorsoli (right apse) or the Byzantine image (14th century) of the Madonna of Romania, protector of the city, framed in silver and placed on the main apse. In the left apse is the Madonna of Freedom, the city’s ex-voto for the failed sale to the Ruffo princes.
7 Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola
The Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola stands on the homonymous hillock overlooking the sea. It originated as a Benedictine monastery. The sanctuary has undergone numerous transformations over time, in particular the portico later walled up to enlarge the nave and the upper floor to accommodate the monks. The stairs connecting the sanctuary were built around 1810. The facade was rebuilt after the 1905 earthquake. The suggestive location of the sanctuary makes this place very visited.
8 Diocesan Museum of Tropea
The main core of the works exhibited at the Diocesan Museum of Tropea comes from the Cathedral and covers a chronological range from the 14th century to the 19th century. Among the oldest testimonies is the 15th-century gilded silver and enamel pastoral staff and a 16th-century icon depicting the Mother of Consolation. The museum also houses a rich art gallery consisting of a group of 18th-century works of Neapolitan culture and a substantial collection of sacred silverware intended for celebration and devotion. Particularly valuable is the full-round, full-figure silver sculpture depicting St. Domenica (1738), the work of the Neapolitan Francesco Avellino.
9 Calabria Museum of Ancient Trades
The Calabria Museum of Ancient Trades features a curious collection of moving figurines that reproduce ancient trades, complemented by photographic documentation of various artisanal activities. Over 80 animated figurines, both men and women, as they might have been in the early 1900s, engaged in fieldwork, milk processing, wool, weaving, and artisanal crafts (potter, shoemaker, blacksmith, farrier, and stonemason). There is also a Science and Technology Exhibition section, where numerous pieces related to the most important inventions and discoveries that contributed to the technical and scientific progress of the past century are displayed, such as fax, television, telegraph, refrigerator, sewing machine, and others.
10 What to eat and where to sleep in Tropea
When it comes to cuisine, Calabria is very rich in ingredients and delicious dishes. Tropea, moreover, has the advantage of being known for its sweet onion, red in color and elongated in shape. The Tropea onion has very ancient origins and is now found in various Italian dishes. A Tropea onion omelette or a salad with fresh onion represent just a few of the many ways to enjoy it. Being a seaside town, the cuisine of Tropea draws from the Calabrian coastal cuisine, based on fish and enhanced with chili pepper.
Tropea offers a wide range of hotels and non-hotel accommodations. From resorts, B&Bs, and holiday homes to guesthouses and hotels. In short, there is plenty of choice. It’s just a matter of budget and taste.
