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Tropea - Sea, Sand and The Blues

Tropea is a small town on the Calabrian coast of Italy boasting sunny beaches, traditional life and an annual blues music festival.

Fishing boats on the white sand of Tropea, on the west coast of Calabria, Italy
Fishing boats on the white sand of Tropea, on the west coast of Calabria, Italy
Interior of one of the churches in Tropea, Italy. Above the altar, a 13th-century Byzantine icon of Mary was created by an apprentice of the famous Renaissance artist, Giotto di Bondone
Interior of one of the churches in Tropea, Italy. Above the altar, a 13th-century Byzantine icon of Mary was created by an apprentice of the famous Renaissance artist, Giotto di Bondone

Where in the world are we?

Explore Tropea

Tropea, a great place to spend a wonderful couple of days.  A little town on the South West coast of Italy. Tropea is perched on the cliffs above the sea.

Atop a separated outcrop of rock is the the Chiesa dell’Isolla, and from this small santuary’s vantage point you can get a good view of the town and the coastline.

The village is enchanting. Narrow twisting lanes where you can shake your opposite neighbour’s hand without leaving your own doorway, small family-run ‘ristorante’ where the service and the food is good, alley ways to explore and discover, and bars where you can rest and recover.

The town has a helpful information centre and a good map to help you find the features of its (perhaps in terms of its architecture) more affluent past. Several grand doorways (porticos) are featured on the map and we spent this afternoon seeking them out.

The small outcrop of rock that juts out into the sea offers a good vantage point.
The small outcrop of rock that juts out into the sea offers a good vantage point.
The narrow streets of Tropea reveal a history of fine architecture.
The narrow streets of Tropea reveal a history of fine architecture. Grab a map from the tourist information centre.
A square in the village of Tropea, Italy
A square in the village of Tropea, Italy

We stayed at a hotel on the port, so to visit the town we had to climb the stairway that zig zags up the cliff front. The tourist season is almost over and most of the ristorante and souvenir shops will close at the end of September. Some of the streets we have to ourselves and the prices are starting to fall as the tourists thin out.

Tonight’s meal started with bruschetta, followed by swordfish for Jen and calamari for me with a shared mixed salad and a litre of vino rosso locale (the local red and this one wasn’t bad at all). The olive oil we poured over the salad was superb.

We will remember Tropea. On our first morning here we were woken by the sound of the goat herd running below our balcony, the neck bells of the leaders clanging to encourage the stragglers to keep up.

The goats passing our window on their way to pasture
The goats passing our window on their way to pasture
One of the ancient doorways you will find in Tropea
One of the ancient doorways you will find in Tropea

And The Blues?

One of the most notable cultural features of Tropea is its music.

From the melancholic melodies of traditional Calabrian folk music to the soulful strains of classical Italian opera, the town’s musical landscape is diverse and rich.

In fact, Tropea hosts an annual blues music festival where local and international musicians gather to showcase their talents.

The Festival is usually held over a couple of weeks in September/October each year. Check out their website for more detail.

Tropea Blues Festival poster
Tropea Blues Festival poster from http://www.tropeablues.com/
The view along the coast from the santuary on top of the outcrop of rock by Tropea
The view along the coast from the santuary on top of the outcrop of rock by Tropea. You can see the efforts being made to shore up the cliffs.
One of the doorways of Tropea - an indication of the town's historical past.
One of the doorways of Tropea - an indication of the town's historical past.
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