An Italian town known for its “fiery cuisine” and troubled past has long been known as the country’s most beautiful. Tropea is a seaside resort town in Italy’s Province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria, close to the toe of the boot-shaped country.
The community and larger province are several hundred miles from the country’s tourist centres, with Naples and its similarly popular neighbours far down the coast to the north.
The town’s distance from the hubbub means tourists come for other reasons, primarily a little seaside R&R.
While it has experienced some troubles that have impacted the number of people who visit, Tropea still ranks as one of the prettiest little towns the country has to offer.
In 2021, Tropea won the Borgo dei Borghi, “village of villages”, an award handed out following rounds of voting from native Italians.
At the time, the town was celebrated for its “heady combination of sea, sun, art, culture, architecture, gastronomy and hospitality”.
Italians voted Tropea the most beautiful of 19 other historic towns, with others in the country’s most idyllic islands coming second and third.
Baunei, in Sardinia, placed second, while Geraci Siculo, in sun-soaked paradise Sicily, came third.
Tropea is most famous for being the “pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea”, and boasts stunning cliff views combined with white sand beaches.
The town is also known for the cipolla rossa di Tropea, a local breed of red onion, and its spicy food.
Three years after its award, Tropea is still winning accolades, as it was recently ranked fourth on Euronews‘ list of “dreamy coastal villages” people should visit during the spring.
The article said: “The Calabrian village of Tropea doesn’t often make it onto travellers’ itineraries.
“It doesn’t help that Calabria takes many a beating in the press: it’s the country’s poorest region and one plagued by organised crime, specifically the powerful ‘Ndrangheta syndicate.
“But that should not deter tourists from visiting Tropea, which aside from having been named Italy’s most beautiful village, is also a foodie paradise.”
