Ancient and Modern Calabria Italy. The ancient and modern town of Tropea, Calabria, Italy.
Some sketches sheltering from the heat and sun enjoying family company with cornetto and coffee.
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. (source: Tropea)
In 1783 the town was almost destroyed by an earthquake, and it suffered some damage from the same cause in 1905.