Hotel Tirreno

If you want to explore another side of Italy, there is no doubt that holidays to Tropea will guide you off the beaten track. The charming historic town is perched on top of a cliff that towers above the mesmerising blue and turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and is part of the wider region of Calabria, in Southern Italy.

Famed for the quality of its sweet tasting red onions, cipolla di Tropea or Tropea’s onion has become synonymous throughout Italy when referring to all red onions. However, there is so much more to the small town. Tropea overlooks Stromboli, a small island that inhibits one of three active volcanoes in Italy and while the volcano has been active for more than 2,000 years, Tropea itself dates back to medieval times, with traces of civilization dating back to 4,500 BC.

Tropea has borne witness to the rise and fall of the Ancient Greek authority, the Byzantines, Roman Empire, the Normans and more. With a history laced with the thread of Greek mythology, legend has it that Hercules declared Tropea to be one of his ports along the 40km of La Costa degli Dei - The Golden Coast of the Gods.

The town embodies a wonderful combination of majestic natural beauty, fascinating architectural charm and is in close proximity to the mysterious Aeolian Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Great for couples, explorers and adventurers alike, the seaside terrace town of Tropea is a historical and cultural escape just waiting to be explored.