The beautiful town of Tropea is often called the “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian” and a mere glance at the town is enough to see why. Perched on a cliff that picturesquely overlooks the bluer than blue sea, beneath endless clear skies, it was a traditionally prosperous town.
As a result, the manmade beauty of the town rivals the natural, to together form a rather lovely picture. According to legend, it was founded by Hercules himself but certainly has existed since Roman Times as a commercial port. Tropea is dotted with lots of charming and historic buildings but the most iconic gem in the entire town has to be the Monastery of Santa Maria dell’Isola. The monastery is located on what was a small rocky island just off the town’s coast and is now a rocky promontory. Accessible only by a winding flight of stone steps cut into the cliff side, the effect is rather romantic and striking and it is also what dominates the sea view from the main town square, Piazza Ercole.
Thought to date back to the 4th century AD originally, it has been rebuilt many times and owes its current appearance to alterations made after damage during an earthquake in the 18th century. The church is a holy destination for pilgrim and home to a 12th-century Byzantine portrait of the Virgin Mary that, according to locals, protects the area. Legend says that, in 1638, the Virgin from the portrait appeared to the Bishop in Calabria, and warned him of an impending earthquake. The residents were moved and, sure enough, an earthquake struck but everyone had been moved to safety.
While the interior is not much to write home about, the view from the roof is astounding and there is a pretty garden set on the rocks behind the building. Picturesque and very Instagram friendly, the monastery is the type of sight that one images when they think of coastal Italy but is only more beautiful in person. Just find a villa in Calabria and you can discover this extraordinary sight for yourself on your next holiday in Italy.
Thought to date back to the 4th century AD originally, it has been rebuilt many times and owes its current appearance to alterations made after damage during an earthquake in the 18th century. The church is a holy destination for pilgrim and home to a 12th-century Byzantine portrait of the Virgin Mary that, according to locals, protects the area. Legend says that, in 1638, the Virgin from the portrait appeared to the Bishop in Calabria, and warned him of an impending earthquake. The residents were moved and, sure enough, an earthquake struck but everyone had been moved to safety.
While the interior is not much to write home about, the view from the roof is astounding and there is a pretty garden set on the rocks behind the building. Picturesque and very Instagram friendly, the monastery is the type of sight that one images when they think of coastal Italy but is only more beautiful in person. Just find a villa in Calabria and you can discover this extraordinary sight for yourself on your next holiday in Italy.
Photo credit: Pokaż informacje o autorze / CC BY-SA 2.5
