• "The History of Tropea"

Is reductive if whoever is in Tropea is only sea life. Must howevere, know it and live it to truly appreciate its tradition. Know the history of Tropea, is to enter the human jouney and the culture of Calabria which is more ancient than is commonly believed if you are referring to the archaeological discoveries of the coves of Scalea or Papasidero reporting of graffiti, in fact , human settlements since the Palaeolithic.

Before the Greek colonization ( between VIII and VII sec. B. C.) , the ancient inhabitants were the Enotri, the Morgeti and the Itali.

Hellenic colonization draw a new reality, destined to shape the social, economic and cultural territory: is the time of Pythagoras, Milone, Zaleuco. In a second phase will be the Romans to occupy Calabria.

It is, unfortunately, in this period (II BC) that our mountains are being depleted with severe mutilation and environmental disasters.

With Roman landowners will develop large malarious areas and entire regions are abandoned for centuries.

With the crumbling Roman Empire, the region will be the victim of constant invasions. Byzantines and Lombards will contend Calabria.

Tropea, was under Byzantine sovereignty for more than half a millennium (from the first half of the sixth century until after the middle of XI century), whose civilization, which continues to the Greek one, was greatly affected.

In Calabria, after the Norman domination, there will be one of the Angevin, Aragonese and Spanish, whose policy, purely feudal, will make life difficult for the population, with tase and duties unbearable.

Tropea, however, was the city state property and therefore not subject to any gentleman. This was a privilege and that it was clearly shown, for example, the census of the territory of the Kingdom of Naples in 1743, only 50 cities in 2765 were state-owned and of these, precisely, Tropea. After the abolition of feudalism, Italy was leveled according to new principles. With the Norman conquest is begun, in Tropea, the rilatinizzazione, although the Greek language will be used for a long time. In 1066, for example, the bishop's seat was occupied by tropeana greek Kalokiro. To him, ineed, turned Sikelgaita, wife of Roberto il Giuscardo, to escape from the brother Ruggero d'Altavilla, falsely accused of having murdered his brother Roberto, in Mileto.

For a long time, then, the Byzantine rite was in use, where Latin was necessary for the faithful to build a church outside the city, ( S. Maria dei Latini, located at the Calvary today).

The urban center of Tropea grew strongly during the first centuries of the Middle Ages, so that in 1276 its population had grown to over 5,000 inhabitants, and, superarein sized cities such as Reggio Calabria. Already in 1500 the Tropeana's compagny is considered a cultured society, it is from this period, in fact, the birth of literary academy: the Academy of fatigue that incorporating, especially, patricians and members of the class honored. Tropea, like Naples, had a seat of local nobility; This will complement a second class, honored one of the people. For the two classes was reserved for the city government.

Vibrant culture is evidenced also by the elegance of the Reinaissance and Baroque splendor of many palaces. The economic crisis also hit ' 600 Tropea, especilly in its trade.

Tropea in 1612 was ceded to the Prince of Scilla, Vincenzo Ruffo.

Tropea did not suffer passively, sending, in fact, the court of Spain, the jurist Louis Lauro, Tropeano, to plead the cause for which, he arrived at the termination of the sale, thanks to the competition of the entire population tropeana in the payment of ransom back Tropea Thus, free! There were, however, other attempts to enfeoffed Tropea, all failed, for the desire shared by all social classes, to defend the state-owned status.

Tropea, due to the earthquake of 1783 and epidemics, will lose that position of advantage gained from the international maritime trade. The Bourbons, in fact, had tried to scramble Tropea from the economic point of view, but all that will be affected, by the terrible earthquake.

After the political turmoil of the French Revolution, in 1800 the seat Portercole, despite the demonstrations of the nobility, was abolished and became, instead, the site of the new administration cittadina.Nel Napoleonic years, Tropea will review a very important role, because not only was confirmed capital of the district but also as a strategic military point of view. Tropea, like all his surroundings, will be involved in the history of the unity of Italy.