Tropea on the Tyrrhenian Sea’s Costa degli Dei (Coast of the Gods) is Calabria’s most famous resort town. It is also the current holder of the title of Italy’s most beautiful village and it is easy to see why. Tropea has miles of pristine white beaches. It also has so much more!
It surprises me that I don’t see more British visitors here. It’s still t-shirt weather in October. There’s also an international airport just up the road in Lamezia Terme.
Tropea is home to Santa Maria dell’Isola, which features on every postcard in the region. It is a Benedictine sanctuary set high above Tropea’s beach on a tufa rock perch. Trek up all of the 300 steps of L’Isola Bella (Beautiful Island). At the top you’ll be able to see the Aeolian Islands on a clear day.
You can happily wander among Tropea’s windy, cobblestone, car free streets. They are full of grand palazzi, restaurants, cafés, and shopping opportunities.
Tropea also produces some of the sweetest, most delicious onions you’ll ever try. These onions are normally purple and oval in shape. They have protected European geographical status. This means that only those grown in the rich soil and mild climate of Tropea can rightfully claim the name.
What’s the best way to enjoy them? Try them thinly sliced in a salad with the juicy local tomatoes and oregano. My favourite is to pair it with tuna on a pizza like a local. Trust me, it works. So much so, this type of pizza is known as “Tropea” in Calabrian restaurants.
To end the day soak up the beautiful sunset over the Tyrrhenian sea. The only way you can make this more beautiful is to pair it with a tartufo, the best ice cream in Italy!