Tropea - The Heart of the Coast of Gods

Being located at the heart of the Coast of Gods you kind of expect a lot from Tropea. My mom, who's from Northern Italy, didn't exactly have the highest of expectations. Well, when we first set foot here she was stunned and mesmerized at the same time. The fact that a gorgeous little town of such beauty hadn't been overrun by tourists and still retains all its charm came as a pleasant surprise.

Santa Maria dell'Isola by Mimma RuffaSanta Maria dell'Isola by Mimma Ruffa

5 Reasons to Visit Tropea

How long have you got? I could go on for hours about why you should visit but I guess you don't have all day so these are some reasons:

1) Wandering Lanes

Tropea from above by http://www.explore-calabria.com/Tropea from above

Wandering down cobbled lanes, just to see where they lead, is something I love doing; sometimes you'll stumble upon a tiny trattoria of four or five tables tucked away in little more than a hole in an ancient wall.

Sometimes you'll meet a clutter of cats discussing the best fishing spots or the town's mice. 

Best of all is when you come upon a piazza filled with life; the aroma of pasta baking in ovens perfumes the air and you catch a glimpse of the sea sparkling bright in the distance. 

Piazza Ercole is the main piazza and just off the Piazza is Ristorante Troppea Vecchia - one of the best spots in town to try the local dishes - especially the seafood and red onions. More on the onions later....

2) Aeolian Islands

Lipari, Aeolian IslandsLipari, one of the Aeolian islands.

Tropea is a great place to take a boat trip out to the Aeolian Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The combination of volcanic islands, languidly exhaling smoke rings into skies of brilliant blue, above seas of sparkling turquoise, is something you'll not easily forget. You can organize trips in Tropea.

3) The Beach

The beach in Tropea, Calabria

The beach in Tropea is simply jaw-dropping, a lovely, huge expanse of golden sand.

In front of you is a gently lapping sea of baby blue, while directly behind cliffs rise from the sand at perpendicular angles... and then turn into houses.

Kind of hard to explain but the photo shows what I mean.

I can't think of any other beach in Italy with this setting.

For more exquisite beaches nearby without any crowds, consider visiting Capo Vaticano just south of Tropea. It's easily reachable by train and makes for an excellent day trip.

4) A Monastery from a Fairy Tale

Santa Maria dell'Isola Monastery by Mimma Ruffa

Santa Maria dell'Isola is an ancient monastery dating back to the 4th century that has been beautifully restored.  

It seems like something from a fairy tale; an enchanted lane leads one on a winding route up the island's cliff-sides rising from the depths of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The fragrance of the island's wild Mediterranean herbs fills the air, mixed with the scent of the sea - a heady experience.

At night it is all lit up with golden lights and a more romantic spot you'll struggle to find.

Even the most jaded of souls will find their spirits soar at the sight and it will stay in your memory for a long long while afterwards, forever really. A treasure to carry with you and unwrap when far far away. Time spent upon this enchanted gem, within the enchanted gem that is Tropea, is time well spent.

5) Red Onion Gelato

Tropea is famous throughout Italy as having the best red onions on earth. Ask any Italian where the best red onions come from and the answer will always be... Tropea.

They love them so much that they make a LOT of dishes using red onions: spaghetti, soups, salads and... gelato!

Yes, you read that right  - gelato.

It isn't nearly as bad as it sounds - pop into Tonino's in Corso Vittoria Emmanuele (the main road where everyone does their passeggiata) and give it a try.  

If you like it have their black squid ink gelato next time :-) Tell me what it's like - I didn't have the courage to try it.

Where to Stay

Superb value, and right in the heart of the old town, is B&B Residenza Cardinale.

For something more luxurious try the lovely Hotel Rocca Della Sena, which is but a flight of private steps away from the beach and boasts stunning sea view. Try to get one of the rooms with a view. They sell out fast though so book early.

When to Visit

During May, June or September you'll get great prices in hotels and restaurants and there are far fewer tourists too. Most of the tourists here are Italian but they tend to arrive in August, while Dutch and German tourists prefer July. And the English speaking tourists? Well there are hardly any yet!

Getting Here

If you are flying then the nearest airport is Lamezia Terme.  From the airport you can rent a car, or get the local bus to Lamezia station and catch the train to Tropea.

Already in Italy? Then you can either drive or come by train. Should you plan on exploring the inland areas of Calabria you'll need a car but if you are happy sticking to the coast you can do that well enough with boats, buses and trains.

Where is Tropea?

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