Tropea, wonderful calabrian country in province of Vibo Valentia,undisputed pearl of the tourism of the Region, is situated between Nicotera and Pizzo Calabro, the two countries who delimit the "Costa degli Dei" or the "Costa Bella". The two attributes are to indicate the wonders that this part of the coast is able to offer to his visitors. Joppolo, Coccorino, Ricadi, Capo Vaticano, Zambrone, Parghelia and Vibo Marina are the other beautiful places of the coast.

This site wants to be useful to people who wants to organize his vacation, we want to introduce you to the beauty of calabrian countries and moreover, we want to propose you other wonderful places where art, culture, cooking and story are the ideal frame to the wonderful sea of the "Costa degli Dei". Therefore Tropea becomes the synonym of vacation on all the coast, like introduction to all the touristic villages, Hotels, campings, apartaments, who make of the "Costa degli Dei" the ideal goal for tourism between relax, history, culture and good cooking. Museum in Vibo Valentia District The coast is not only sea, but there are many importants Museums and artistic places to testimony how this region was land of art and culture.

Undisputed pearl of the Calabrian tourism, its history seems to be very ancient. Some people say that it was founded by Scipione l’Africano, on his return from Rome, after his victory over Cartagine; others think that it has more ancient origins reffering to the Ausoni, Brezii Aprustini, Enotri, Osci, even to the demi-god Ercole.

According to mythology, this last one, coming back from Spain, stopped in this garden and decided to found a new town, whose name reminded him forever. In the middle of the town you can find the square Ercole, from “Portus Herculis”, which was Tropea’s ancient name. For half century it was dominated by the Saracens and after the war aginst them, it passed under Niceforo Foca’s dominion. In the Norman period and later, in the Aragonese’s one, Tropea played a very important role in the seafering activity. Its commercial harbor has been attaked by many Turkish raids.

The town preserves several traces of the different historical Ages: its centre is one of the most characteristc in Calabria. It is the smallest town for extension in Vibo Valentia district situated between Gioia Tauro Gulf and S. Eufemia Gulf, that thanks to its beautiful landscape attracts thousand and thousand of foreign tourists, who spend here their time to admire the noble residences, the graceful small mansions (XVIth-XVIIth centuries) with their artistic portals of granite or of tufa-stone and wrought iron balconies. Tropea is one of the most famous seaside resort and it can rightly be called “the capital of the holidays”, because its sea, its white beaches, equipped by bathing establishments, tourist complexes and hotels, can compete with those of the most famous tourist resorts.

A high rock linked to the dry land, Santa Maria dell’Isola, can be admired from a terrace in Corso Vittorio Emanuele, forty meters over the coast. This Sanctuary, (once a Benedictine monastery), together with the Norman Cathedral dell’ Assunta, (rebuilt in 1163), St. Francesco D’Assisi Church of the XIIIth century, (rebuilt in the XVth century), the Church of the Annunziata, those of the Liguorini, of the Rosario, of the Carmine, of St. Francesco di Paola (built in 1543), preserve some original architectural characters and above all a lot of works of art.

Street Boiano is the most suggestive in the old town, along which you can find Villa Braghò, one of the so many noble residences. There is Palazzo Toraldo of France too, built whereas once an ancient castle was, which preserves archives and a private collection of Christian epigraphs of the IVth-Vth centuries. Here was born one of the main Calabrian philosopher: Pasquale Galluppi (1770-1846).

CHURCHES & BUILDINGS

The Cathedral, it is a XI-XIIth century building, that shows the Sicilian-Norman influence in the external architectonical decoration (arcades and tarsias). The inside, with three naves and three apses, preserves interesting works of art, such as the “Madonna del Popolo”, a Montorsoli statue (1555); the “Madonna della Romania”, under XVIth century Byzantine influence; several marble sculptures of the XVth century and a marmoreal ciborium of the XVIth century. The gothic arc arcade, that sorroundes the little sqaure of the Cathedral is of the XIth century.

Church of Santa Maria dell’Isola, in the past was a Benedictine sanctuary of early Middle Age origin, more times rebuilt. It stands on a high rock tied to the dry land of the beach under the houses. Toraldo di Francia Palace, it perseves parchments of XII-XVIIth century and paintings of the XVIIIth century (via Lauro, free entry by appointment, tel 0963-61388).

Useful numbers

Hospital Exchange - Tel.0963/61366

First Aid-Station Near hospital - Tel. 0963/61366

National Railway Station Tel. 0963/61294 Harbour Offices P.zza Mercato – Tel.0963/603261

Italian Car Service Via della Vittoria - Tel.0963/61289 Chemist’s Shops C.so V. Emanuele III (Nicolò) -Tel. 0963/61010 P.zza V. Veneto,3 (Paparatti) - Tel. 0963/61117

Police/Police Station - Tel.0963/603185-603189

Carabinieri - Tel. 0963/61018

Banks

Banca Popolare di Crotone: Via Libertà - Tel.0963/61651

Carime: Viale Stazione - Tel.0963/61002

Proloco P.zza Ercole - Tel.0963/605928