Remove the molds from the oven and turn them upside down, dropping the onions gently onto a plate (to prevent them from breaking). Looking for a killer view right next to the sea but need a few rooms? Take a look at this three-bedroom apartment. Traditional decor throughout, and lots of space, the views are excellent. Be sure to try one of Scilla’s signature swordfish sandwiches — it’s called a panino pesce spada. We enjoyed ours from Lido Antares, right on the beach, who had several different options on the menu. Would you rather visit on a tour? You can book a Reggio Calabria and Scilla tour here. Pizzo is a must for gelato lovers. Visit Pizzo If you’re not able to find a direct ferry transfer, I recommend taking the train to Reggio Calabria, ferry to Messina, then ferry to any of the Aeolian Islands. You can view the Aeolian Islands ferry schedule here. (The train to Messina is complicated from Tropea; it’s better to switch in Reggio. You can also switch to a train to Messina in Reggio, as the train literally goes on the ferry!)

Affaccio del Corso | The endpoint of Corso Vittorio Emanuelle is probably the best viewpoint out to the water, and is the place to get an iconic short of Tropea. Make sure to stop by whenever you pass, as the colours of the water change quite dramatically throughout the day. Very busy at sunset. Find it here. There are 3 types of Tropea onions. Thecipolla fresca which is ready for harvesting in April. It has a long stem and reddish-purple bulb. In June, they harvest the‘cipolla da serbo ’. This is the bright red, torpedo-shaped onion that we usually think of as a Tropea onion. I have grown this type in my garden! Step 3 Sauté the onions in olive oil.The Italian region of Calabria is famous for its sweet red onions named after the popular beach town of Tropea. The main growing area for these onions is south of Tropea, around Ricardi and Capo Vaticano, although they are grown all over Calabria. However, the ones grown closest to the sea are particularly sweet because of the sandy soil and mild climate. More about Tropea onions. Tropea offers so much to see, so much to enjoy. Some of the most treasured memories of my life were made in Tropea and I always feel I've left a part of me behind whenever I leave. Accommodation in Tropea Apparently, Tropea onions were introduced to Calabria by the Greeks. They, in turn, had discovered them thanks to the Assyrians and Babylonians. However, it was the Arabs who perfected cultivation in Tropea and contributed to the spread of this onion throughout the region. By Medieval times, Tropea (the town) had become famous for its onions. Types of Tropea onions. There are trains out of Tropea that go as far as Lamezia Terme Station if you’d rather take public transportation from the airport. Trains take two hours rather than one hour by driving. Personally, we love to travel southern Italy in September, crossing over into mid-October, and that would be the ideal time to visit Tropea. To avoid crowds, visits in late May and June would also be worthwhile but be mindful that temperatures may not be at 'beach ready' levels the earlier you arrive.

Tropea’s annual Red Onion Festival, held every spring in town, pays tribute to what Italians call the “Queen of Onions” with gourmet stands and cooking demonstrations. A real emblem of the town, and a point of pride, Tropea even has a red onion festival every August! How to get to Reggio Calabria from Tropea: Reggio Calabria is about a 90-minute drive or two-hour train ride from Tropea. Part of the drive is on narrow country roads.There’s no reason to bring your car to the Aeolian Islands. A stroll by the lungomare of Reggio Calabria. Visit Reggio Calabria They’re so ingrained in us, an icon of our land and cuisine, that we take them for granted, a bit like how Romans are so accustomed to the Colosseum,” says Pugliese, who owns Tropea’s Osteria della Cipolla Rossa, a no-frills tavern with a handful of tables, which is the ‘temple’ of red onion delicacies. Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Tropea: Le Terrazze— This boutique hotel has a lovely roof terrace where you can enjoy breakfast in the mornings. Rooms are decently sized, clean, and private. I stayed here and thoroughly enjoyed this place. Sure, sunsets are everywhere, but sunsets in Tropea are especially glorious for three reasons: because the city sits looking westward over the sea, because the city is perched on cliffs high above sea level for even further views, and because in the distance you have the Aeolian Islands — including conical Stromboli and its active volcano, a plume of smoke in the air!

If you prefer, replace the lemon juice with two tablespoons of white wine vinegar and you’ll achieve the same sweet and sour contrast in the onion jam. How to get to Pizzo from Tropea: Pizzo is about a 35-minute drive or an hourlong train ride from Tropea. The drive is mostly along the coastal highway. The railway station is NOT near the old town, however, and you’ll have quite a long uphill walk getting there. This is one of the best vantage points in town — you’ll get fantastic photos of Tropea’s cliffs. I recommend going in the late afternoon for the best light. By the way, you can also find stunning beautiful beaches less than 10-minutes from the town - find out our favourites in The 14 Best Beaches in Tropea - And How To Visit Them!The shrine is one of Tropea's icons. The legend tells that a Madonna of wood arrived at Tropea transported from the Near East and that the mayor of the village wanted to give it a place of honour in a natural niche of the islet. Due to its small size of the niche, a carpenter was asked to saw the legs off the statue, to be able to fit it in the niche. However, a sudden paralysis of arms prevented the craftsman from concluding his work so today the statue rests undisturbed inside its shrine, which is well worth a visit. Its clear layout and finely decorated building was built on what was once an island, while today it is connected to the mainland by a strip of beach. Built by the Basilian Fathers, the shrine was a hermitage that became in time a small church dedicated to the Madonna dell’Isola even if the statue on the altar represents the Holy Family. The church was then donated to the Benedictine Fathers and from then belongs to the Abbey of Montecassino. The islet is particularly impressive and, on the side, facing the sunset, a picturesque grotto opens up with emerald walls. Tropea’s beaches Would you rather visit on a tour? You can book a half-day tour of Pizzo from Tropea here. It’s always time for a soccer game on a sandy beach in Tropea! How to Get to Tropea Italy Tropea’s beaches are excellent — some of the best I’ve seen in Italy. (And SO much better than what you get on the Amalfi Coast.) The beaches here are both long and wide; they have soft white sand; and there are a mix of private and public beaches. And they are easily accessible from Tropea’s old town. Tropea has borne witness to the rise and fall of the Ancient Greek authority, the Byzantines, Roman Empire, the Normans and more. With a history laced with the thread of Greek mythology, legend has it that Hercules declared Tropea to be one of his ports along the 40km of La Costa degli Dei - The Golden Coast of the Gods.

The distinctive ruddy color is because they are rich in anthocyanins – colored plant pigments full of antioxidants, explains Michele Pugliese, who owns a restaurant in Tropea. The sweet flavor isn’t due to higher quantities of sugar but to fewer chemical compounds of pyruvic acid and sulfur compounds that normally make onions sharp. As a result, Tropea is cheaper than many other seaside resorts in Italy, and it caters primarily to Italian travelers. Getting here can be a bit of a pain (see more in the How to Get to Tropea section). In case of a cold, cough or sore throat, locals recommend cutting an onion in half and placing the two pieces at night on the bedside table, close to the nose, to inhale the therapeutic scent while sleeping. This method apparently also helps to combat insomnia. Each week Francesco Calabro drives his lorry from Calabria to Rome to sell premium red onions that grow along the coast around Tropea, a clifftop town on Italy’s southern tip.

Cipolla rossa e Costa viola

We've written more about Italian onions at Lampascioni onions from Pugliaand this Onion Chutney Recipe made with Tropea onions. One of the nicest things about Tropea is that it has such a long summer season. As a result, you can visit in May or October and enjoy clear days, summer temperatures, and beach time! (Keep in mind that while the average temperature is similar in May/October and June/September, the water is warmer later in the year.) If you want to learn about Tropea onions, you will love this activity. This is the best thing I did in Tropea! Pasticceria Peccati di Gola Tropea | Nothing fancy, but really friendly people, good coffee and pastries, and a spot to have breakfast away from the historical centre - find it here. In Tropea, the onion harvest is still done by hand and begins at the end of June, continuing throughout July. Traditionally, red onions are dried and woven "in braids", this is how they are preserved until the next harvest. Health benefits