Spiaggia di Tropea beach, Calabria, Italy

Spiaggia di Tropea is the principal beach of the town of Tropea, located on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria in southern Italy. Situated below the historic center, which rises dramatically on a cliff above the sea, the beach is widely regarded as one of the most notable coastal landscapes in the region. The rocky promontory crowned by the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola forms a distinctive landmark separating different sections of the shoreline.

The beach runs along a broad strip at the foot of pale cliffs and is made of light, almost white sand mixed with fine gravel, softer than most beaches on this coast. Near the shore the water is only one to three metres deep, which gives it its famous turquoise colour before it turns deep blue further out. The bathing season lasts from June to September, and in July and August the sea often reaches 26–29 °C.

The rock of Santa Maria dell’Isola divides the shore into Spiaggia della Rotonda to the north and the Marina dell’Isola beaches to the south. Large sections are free public beach (spiaggia libera), and private lidos rent out sun loungers and umbrellas in summer, with showers and bars. Lifeguards are on duty in the peak summer months.

Stairways lead down from the cliff-top old town to the beach, and a staircase cut into the rock climbs to the sanctuary, which charges a small entrance fee of a few euros. From the harbour, boat trips run along the Coast of the Gods (Costa degli Dei) and, in summer, to Stromboli and the other Aeolian Islands. Restaurants and kiosks line the waterfront, and the beach is the heart of Tropea as a seaside resort in Calabria.