Tropea

For the village in Arcadia, Greece, see Tropaia.

Tropea
—  Comune  —
Comune di Tropea
The beach of Tropea.
Coat of arms
Tropea Location of Tropea in Italy
Coordinates: 38°40′45″N 15°53′55″E
Country	Italy
Region	Calabria
Province	Vibo Valentia (VV)
Frazioni	Marina
Government
• Mayor	Francesco Mario Sammarco (since April 4, 2005)
Area
• Total	3.2 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Elevation	60 m (200 ft)
Population (2007)
• Total	6,851
• Density	Bad rounding here2,100/km2 (Bad rounding here5,500/sq mi)
Demonym	Tropeani (dialectal: Trupiani)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	89861
Dialing code	0963
Patron saint	St. Madonna of Romania
Saint day	March 27
Website	Official website

Tropea (ancient Trapeia) is a municipality located within the province of Vibo Valentia, in Calabria (southern Italy).

The town is a famous bathing place, situated on a reef, in the gulf of St. Euphemia connected with the mainland by a narrow strip in the Tyrrhenian Sea, toward the south with respect to Vibo Valentia and northward with respect to Ricadi and Capo Vaticano.

Main sights

• Franciscan monastery
• 12th century Norman cathedral
• Tropea Castle -destroyed in 1876

The Virgin Mary of Romania

In the Norman cathedral of Tropea there is a picture of Virgin Mary of Romania, of Byzantine origin, dating from around 1330.

The legend says that a boat coming from the east-Byzantine (hence the name Virgin Mary of Romania) was driven by a storm in the port of Tropea. Repaired the damage, the captain tried to leave but the ship still stood in the harbor. On the same night the bishop of the city, Ambrogio Cordova, dreamed of the Virgin Mary asking him to stay in Tropea and becoming its Protectress. The dream repeated for several nights. Eventually the bishop summoned the senior officials and the citizens, and together they went to the port to take the picture of the Virgin Mary. As soon as the painting was brought to shore the ship departed.

The Virgin Mary promised to defend the city from the pestilence, earthquakes and war, and many events that took place since then seem to testify it.

According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in dream several times to the bishop, warning of an earthquake that would devastate Calabria. On the 27 March 1638 the bishop established a penitential procession, involving all the people from Tropea. Thanks to the procession an earthquake which stroke in that same day did not procure any harm to anyone.

The citizens of Tropea were also saved from the 1783 Calabrian earthquakes, much stronger and more tragic than the previous one, that affected the whole of Calabria. This event strengthened the devotion to the Virgin Mary of Romania, and the citizens of Tropea proclaimed her the patron of Tropea.

During World War II Tropea suffered a bombing, but the six bombs which fell on Tropea all fell into a hole and remained unexploded.

Notable people

• Pasquale Galluppi - philosopher.
• Raf Vallone - actor.
• Albert Anastasia - an American mobster.

Tropea onions

Many villages around Tropea produce a particular quality of red onion. In Italy these onions are so famous that cipolla di Tropea ("Tropea onion" or "Tropea's onion") has become an Italian synonym for all red onions.

One of the gelaterias in town, Tonino in the Corso, even makes a red onion ice cream (as well as others based on squid ink and nduja, the local spicy salami).

Sources and external links

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. 

• Pro Loco Tropea - Turistic Association & IAT point (Touristic's Information & Assistance)
• Museo Antichi Mestieri
• Brief History of Tropea
• Photos of Tropea and surrounding areas
• Photo Gallery (Italian)

The church on Isola Bella

Town centre

Sunset on the Tyrrhenian Sea shore