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Tropea, Italy: A Spectacularly Situated Beach Town

Tan stone buildings built into the cliffs of Tropea, overlooking a long white beach and bright clear turquoise water.

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Tropea Italy is one of the most spectacular seaside towns in the Mediterranean — yet it’s almost undiscovered by tourists outside Europe. Italian tourists, however, have been in the loop for quite some time.

I recently visited Tropea for the first time, on a long weekend trip exploring the region of Calabria. People say that Tropea is the jewel of Calabria, the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and I’m inclined to agree. It’s far and away the most visually spectacular destination in the region!

Tropea is a pretty old city set atop gorgeous tall cliffs, overlooking expansive sandy beaches with clear turquoise water. This coastline is called the Coast of the Gods — la Costa degli Dei — and runs along the province of Vibo Valentia in Calabria.

While Tropea is phenomenally popular with Italian travelers, and decently popular with European travelers, it’s very seldom visited by North Americans. Which is ironic considering that so many Italian Americans have roots in Calabria!

And if you have roots here, known that your people could have come from anywhere. Tropea has a long history of being inhabited and conquered by different civilizations: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Arabs, and more.

A lot of travelers think that the Amalfi Coast is a good spot for an Italian beach destination — but I strongly disagree with this. The Amalfi Coast is gorgeous, but the beaches are tiny, often with dark gray sand, and can’t accommodate many people. If you want “beach time” in Amalfi, you’re better off booking a hotel with a pool.

Instead, Tropea is a much better version of what an Amalfi Coast beach vacation is. You still get stunning scenery — an old town perched on top of dramatic cliffs. But here you also get large, sandy beaches with plenty of room to enjoy them. Best of all? It’s significantly cheaper than the Amalfi Coast.

I arrived in Tropea after a road trip around Calabria’s coast. And what a beauty she was.

Tropea Italy, in all its clifftop glory, via Shutterstock.

Planning a Trip to Tropea, Italy

Before you plan your trip to Tropea, Italy, there are some things you should know. Calabria is in the south of Italy, and it’s historically a poorer and less developed region. While Calabria is a safe place to visit, roads aren’t always in great condition, and public transportation can…

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