Tropea

Tropea
Comune
Comune di Tropea
View of the historic centre of Tropea
Coat of arms
Tropea Location of Tropea in Italy
Coordinates: 38°40′45″N 15°53′55″E / 38.67917°N 15.89861°E / 38.67917; 15.89861Coordinates: 38°40′45″N 15°53′55″E / 38.67917°N 15.89861°E / 38.67917; 15.89861
Country	Italy
Region	Calabria
Province / Metropolitan city	Vibo Valentia (VV)
Frazioni	Marina
Government
• Mayor	Extraordinary commission
Area
• Total	3.2 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Elevation	60 m (200 ft)
Population (30 November 2015)
• Total	6,462
• Density	2,000/km2 (5,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	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 (Italian pronunciation: [troˈpɛːa]; ancient Trapeia; Τράπεια in Ancient Greek) 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.

The history of Tropea begins in Roman times, when along its coast, Sextus Pompey defeated Octavius. In the south of Tropea, the Romans had built a commercial port, in the locality of Formicoli (from the name Forum of Hercules), mentioned by Pliny and Strabo.

The legend says that it was Hercules who, returning from Spain (Pillars of Hercules) stood on the Coast of Gods and made Tropea one of his ports.

Due to its peculiar position as terrace on the sea, Tropea played an important role during Roman, Norman and Aragonese times. In the surrounding areas have been found tombs dating back to the Magna Graecia period.

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 Empire (hence the name Virgin Mary of Romania) was driven into the port of Tropea by a storm. After repairing the damage, the captain tried to leave, but the ship still stayed in the harbor. That 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 itself 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.