Tropea
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Tropea

Tropea

Calabrian cliff town above turquoise beaches, watched over by Santa Maria dell'Isola.

Tropea is perhaps the most famous destination in all of Calabria, and for good reason. The town perches on cliffs above a sandy beach, with the church of Santa Maria dell'Isola built on a rock with sea on three sides. The old town above is a tangle of steep streets, crumbling palaces, and old churches. The cathedral — Norman in origin, rebuilt after earthquakes — houses a venerated icon and two unexploded World War II bombs embedded in its outer wall, left as a votive offering.

On clear days you can see Sicily and the Aeolian Islands across the sea. At sunset this is unforgettable. Below the cliffs, the beach is exceptional — fine white sand and turquoise water that earns its reputation every summer. From town, it is worth making a trip south to Capo Vaticano, particularly the marina of Santa Maria, for some of the finest beaches on the Tyrrhenian coast and the best views of the islands.

Guide

Eating Out

Tropea has a well-deserved reputation for its local produce, and the food here is significantly better than in most Calabrian beach resorts. The red onion of Tropea — cipolle di Tropea, a sweet red onion grown on the volcanic soils of the Tyrrhenian coast — is the town's most famous export and appears in everything from bruschetta to gelato. Nduja, the fiery spreadable sausage that is Calabria's great gift to the world, also features prominently.

Guide

Getting There

Tropea has its own railway station on the Reggio Calabria–Lamezia Terme line, with services from both cities. From Lamezia Terme, which has the nearest airport with connections to Rome, Milan, and some northern European cities, the train takes around an hour. From Reggio Calabria the journey is longer (around 2 hours) but the line follows the Tyrrhenian coast for much of the way and the views are excellent.

By car, Tropea is reached via the A2 autostrada south from Naples and then the SS18 coastal road. The drive from Naples takes around 4 hours. Parking in Tropea itself is limited; there are car parks at the edge of town and a shuttle in peak season.

Guide

Things to Do

Tropea's appeal is concentrated in a small area: the clifftop old town, the beaches below, the church on the rock, and the views across to the Aeolian Islands. The town is compact enough that you can walk everywhere, but the surrounding coast extends the possibilities considerably.