Tropea

History:
The presence of a human settlement in the Tropea area is attested as far back as the Bronze Age. Only later did the boundaries between history and mythology become blurred and at times indistinguishable. For this reason, it is still difficult today to trace the city's founding to a specific date and population.

It is said that in the beginning there was Portercole, a town founded by Hercules, who passed through here during his travels in search of the Golden Fleece. Alternatively, it is thought that he came purposely to rid the area of ​​giants and later wanted to build a city in honor of Juno, who had nurtured him as a baby. Another theory traces the founding of this Calabrian town to Scipio Africanus, who arrived in Italy after defeating Carthage and ordered the founding of a city named Trophea, to honor the gods who had supported him in the Carthaginian endeavor.

We can only know for certain that the presence of various toponyms in the written sources that have reached us has not helped historical analysis.

Tropea's geographical location, overlooking the sea, has been both a blessing and a curse for the town over the centuries. Although it enjoyed the advantages of being on major trade routes, it was also more exposed to foreign conquests. Indeed, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was contested between Byzantium and Saracen mercenaries, who twice established their Arab emirate in Tropea.

In 1060, the Normans arrived in the south: Robert Guiscard received the territories of Puglia and Calabria from the Pope and, to thank him, began a process of conversion in all the villages, building abbeys, convents, and churches. From this point on, Tropea underwent a period of growth that lasted until the early 18th century.

Over the centuries, Tropea has grown both demographically and in size. The 16th century was the century in which it was governed by the Nobles and the Honored; during the Renaissance, the Accademia degli Affaticati was founded in the village, which attracted educated figures of renowned moral character. Furthermore, during this period, construction of public buildings and private residences began.

During the Age of Enlightenment, Tropea was ravaged by popular uprisings and a violent earthquake that damaged much of the town. The post-unification period accelerated Tropea's decline, due to the choice of many young people to emigrate to America and Northern Europe, but also due to the demolition of many monuments, such as the castle and the church of San Giorgio, which had been built in Roman times as a temple dedicated to Mars.

Today, even though the town has suffered greatly from the destruction of its historic center, Tropea remains a city that shines with a particular charm, favored by the cliff on which it stands and the clear waters that lap it.

The church of Santa Maria dell'Isola

The Church of the Madonna dell'Isola is a place of evocative spiritual power, worth visiting at least once in your life, whether you are a believer or not.

During the 1783 earthquake, a freak wave washed a small, previously offshore island ashore. On this small promontory, a white church stands out against the green Mediterranean scrub. Little is known about its construction: the island was likely originally inhabited by a group of hermit monks, and later, with the arrival of the Normans, the church was donated to the Abbey of Montecassino, which still owns it today.

The island and its church are the undisputed symbol of Tropea and Calabria, and, as is often the case, they are linked to an ancient legend. It is said that in ancient times, a ship from the East arrived in Tropea and was unable to set sail again until it donated the statue of the Madonna it was carrying to the city. The mayor and bishop moved the Madonna into a niche, but the statue was too large, so they decided to call a carpenter to saw off her legs. As the carpenter was about to complete the task, he was suddenly paralyzed, and the mayor and bishop died suddenly. The statue was transported to another location and in the days that followed performed several miracles for the people. Today, all trace of this Madonna has been lost, but until a few decades ago, it was customary to make a pilgrimage to the cave where she was located to ask for a favor.

Due to the earthquakes of 1783 and 1905, the church lost much of its original appearance. Today, a long staircase leads to the esplanade, where you can admire the beauty of Tropea. Inside the building, you can admire a pipe organ, one of the prized pieces housed within this place of worship.

Tropea Cathedral

Tropea Cathedral is located in the heart of the historic center, overlooking the square that gives it its name.

This place of worship was built during the period of Norman domination, following the Latinization project desired by Robert Guiscard.

The church was built on a Byzantine cemetery and constructed of ochre-colored tuff ashlars and lava stone. In the 17th century, it was modified and given a Baroque style, in keeping with the dictates of the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Despite extensive damage from earthquakes, restoration efforts were always aimed at restoring the original appearance. The façade is characterized by a portal with a tuff arch and a series of tuff arches on the left side, where an effigy of the Madonna of Romania, the patron saint of Tropea, is also located.

Inside the cathedral are several highly prestigious works, most notably the original depiction of the Madonna of Romania, located on the high altar. This work was likely created in 1230 by a pupil of Giotto.

Also of particular importance are a black crucifix, probably made in the 17th century and brought from France, a statue of the Madonna del Popolo, the 18th-century pulpit and a statue of the Madonna della Libertà, made in the 17th century in Carrara marble.

The Tropea onion

The Tropea red onion is no ordinary onion: it's The Onion! Its sweetness and crunchiness have conquered the world, and every year the certified PGI cultivation of this vegetable continues to grow.

The red onion was introduced to Calabria by the Phoenicians and Greeks and was historically grown in the Capo Vaticano area, in the municipality of Ricardi. From the fields, it was then transported on ox-drawn carts to the station in Tropea, from where it departed for every direction on the continent. It is grown in deep, volcanic soils rich in potassium and is a veritable resource for the whole of Calabria. The Tropea Red Onion Protection Consortium boasts a turnover of twenty-five million euros, employing six thousand people and covering one thousand hectares of cultivated land, and numbers are destined to grow.

The Tropea Red Onion is a highly sought-after souvenir among visitors to Calabria, and this region has recognized its inestimable value. This unique onion is indeed a health elixir, useful for treating kidney stones, purifying the blood, acting as an antioxidant, and even treating colds, among many other benefits. The beneficial properties of this onion have been studied and developed by researchers at the University of Calabria and Magna Graecia, who won the Clinic Center Life Science with their startup Ry Goldzip and the invention of a cream that uses the active ingredients in the Tropea onion to speed up the healing of diabetic ulcers, without the use of anti-inflammatories and antibiotics.

Tropea onion is an essential ingredient in Italian cuisine, the undisputed queen of soffritto and summer salads. We recommend it as a jam, paired with a meat dish or even with cheeses like pecorino or caciocavallo.

The Red Onion of Tropea is also and above all the symbol of the redemption of a land that wants to free itself from crime and its harmful actions. Today it is the emblem of a territory that is being reborn and the data seem to be pushing this red bandwagon: 2017 was the year of the Tropea onion and the forecasts for 2018 seem to confirm this rise.

Holy Sunday (of Tropea)

Saint Domenica was born in Tropea to a noble Greek family, during the Roman Empire of Diocletian Augustus.

Her parents, Dorotheus and Arsenia, were fervent Christians and ardently desired to have a child. After a long time, they finally gave birth to a baby girl, whom they named Domenica, because she was born on the Lord's Day.

Domenica was a shy and quiet child, obedient to her parents and faithful to God. So much so that when she reached marriageable age, rather than marry like her peers did, she decided to consecrate her purity to the Lord.

For Domenica and her family, their faith in Christ grew day by day and they managed to involve more and more friends and neighbors, so much so that they ended up transforming their home into a temple.

Initially, Diocletian's empire was marked by a truce with Christians, but just two years after his inauguration the situation changed and a brutal persecution of Christ's followers began.

Domenica and her family were denounced as enemies of the gods. They were likely a family of wealthy social standing, because their case came to the attention of the emperor, who requested to see them personally.

The three were taken to Nola in Campania, where Diocletian was staying. Brought before a judge, he asked Domenica to renounce her faith in Christ, but she replied that she would never do so. The emperor ordered the family to be flogged in the public square and in the most frequented places of the city.

Diocletian then decided to lock Domenica's parents in prison and take them to Armenia, where the governor of Mytilene sentenced them to be beheaded.

The emperor was forced to move to the East and left Western affairs to Maximian. When he found himself facing Domenica, he was captivated by her undeniable charm and tried in vain to seduce her in every way.

Frustrated and distressed, Maximian had Domenica taken to prison and, after a few days, released her and handed her over to a prostitute, whose task was to dissuade her from her vow of chastity. This attempt, too, was unsuccessful. The emperor then ordered her thrown to the ground and trampled upon, but Domenica nevertheless managed to get up.

She was sent to Campania, where she was subjected to further terrible tortures, all of which she successfully overcame. Domenica was then sentenced to beheading, which she bravely faced, asking to offer a final prayer to God beforehand.

Tropea Red Onion Omelette

The undisputed queen of this region's cuisine is undoubtedly the onion. It can be eaten raw or cooked, but it's always a delight. One of Tropea's signature dishes is the red onion frittata.

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs;
• 2 original Tropea red onions;
• Grated pecorino cheese, to taste;
• Extra virgin olive oil;
• A sprig of parsley;
• Salt;
• Black pepper;

Preparation:

Remove the outer layers of the onions and finely chop the remaining parts. Heat a drizzle of oil in a pan, add the onions, cover with a lid, and let them cook until almost creamy. Season with salt.

In a bowl, mix the eggs with the pecorino, add pepper, and finally the stewed onions.

Heat a little oil in a non-stick pan and then add the mixture, cook over medium heat for ten minutes on one side, then turn it over and cook for five minutes on the other.

Once the frittata is ready, you can decide whether to serve it hot or slightly warm; it will be exceptionally delicious either way.