Tropea – the most famous Calabrian photograph

Tropea is probably the most famous Calabrian resort – a flagship of local tourism. The town sits atop a high cliff, with white beaches and turquoise waters below, and opposite is the iconic rock with the Santa Maria dell'Isola sanctuary, which you recognize from most photos of Calabria. The old town is full of narrow alleys, small squares, restaurants, bars, and shops selling everything from dried tomatoes to the most famous Calabrian onions.

Tropea is beautiful, lively, photogenic – and definitely not just a "hidden gem." It's more of a place where sooner or later, you'll meet the rest of the world, who came to see the best of the Calabrian coast. We took a two-day trip in October, but it can be done in one day from Scalea, though it seems like an unnecessary rush to me. Staying overnight in Tropea was definitely worth it – I recommend it.

From Scalea, you can comfortably reach Tropea by train, with just one transfer, which is really not a big deal as everything is usually well marked. As always, I recommend having at least a 20-minute buffer between connecting trains due to possible delays, finding platforms, using restrooms, and the general Calabrian "laid-back" attitude.

And what else not to forget in Tropea? Their famous red onion. You'll encounter it everywhere – in markets, shops, and on menus. I even tried an onion mojito (yes, really, onion in a drink), so once was enough, but it was worth it for the story.

And then there's truffa. It's a local ice cream specialty – looks like a larger round "ball," usually chocolate or hazelnut, sprinkled with cocoa. Inside, there's often a liquid or softer chocolate center that nicely melts when you cut into it. It's served in a small bowl or on a plate, eaten with a spoon, and it's exactly the kind of dessert you try "just for a taste," and then you wish for a second one.