Tropea (province of Vibo Valentia) is located on an imposing tuff rock that rises steeply over the part of the Tyrrhenian coastline known as the coast of the gods. Its symbol is the Benedictine Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell'Isola, which stands out against the blue of the sea on a cliff facing the village.
Medieval in origin, the church was a hermitage for Eastern monks and became property of the Benedictine abbey of Montecassino in the 11th century. It was reworked in Gothic style in the 14th century, with an arched entrance way, a small arabesque cupola and a bell tower to the left. Inside, a cross vault ceiling covers three naves, a central altar and two side altars. The church façade was altered after the 1905 earthquake, with a bell tower placed in its centre and pyramidal decorations, topped with spheres, added to the terrace. The little square with the sanctuary, and its viewpoint, can be accessed by a steep staircase in the rock built in 1810.
The historical centre features the Church of St. Demetrius, with a 14th century chapel, and noble residences with characteristic portals dating between the 1700s and 1800s. There is a private museum about ancient professions in Calabria and a permanent exhibition of train models.
The municipality also includes the Marina of Tropea with its tourist harbour and the farming and residential areas of Carmine and Campo.
Fondazione Calabria Film Commission
Cittadella Regione Calabria — Località Germaneto — 88100 Catanzaro
Phone: +39 0961 853836
Email: info@calabriafilmcommission.it
