Tropea (Italy) | Laid Back Day - 30 May, 2023

While eating dinner, I noticed the moon and the contrast of the red flowers against the evening blue sky. 

Tropea is a small town of 6,000 people along the west coast of Italy. It was recently named one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. It's about a 6-hour train ride south of Naples and an excellent place for me to post up for a couple of days before returning to Naples.

The 3-hour train ride from Milazzo lands me in Tropea late afternoon. I always prefer to arrive before sundown when I travel to a new location. It not only gives me a chance to find my accommodations easily. but also enables me to find my bearings in the new town. I'm intrigued by the view walking down the center of the main street when I arrive in Tropea.

Passing by this pottery store, I stop and look hard. I would have guessed I was somewhere in Mexico if I wasn't in Italy. The vibrant colors of this terra cotta pottery and patterns have a distinct familiarity to me. Nevertheless, the pieces are amazing. Tropea is full of little shops. Some are more touristy than others. It's a great place to wander about.

One of my favorite areas in Tropea is just west of the main square. This little courtyard has a serene feel that is almost surreal. The buildings resemble something out of a painting rather than real life. I especially love the pops of colors, browns and blue, and the contrast of the black staining (i.e., mold) on the yellow walls. I could sit in this location for hours, simply admiring what I see.

The tiles on this staircase look like they were created by the same terra cotta pottery shop I passed earlier. Of course, decorating steps in a staircase is not unique to Tropea. However, I am especially fond of the color patterns here. It gives the stairs a unifying theme and makes them warm and inviting.

For dinner, I settle on Spaghetti with clams. Fresh pasta tastes so much better than dried pasta. It is less pasty or starchy. This simple dish has an olive oil base for the sauce, and the clams are cooked in a garlic wine and butter sauce. My fondness for simple pasta dishes grows each time I eat a meal like this. After my trip to Italy, I will never over-sauce my pasta again.

I'm feeling that I want to hike tomorrow instead of spending time in town. Looking around the area, there appear to be plenty of places to go. I'll figure something out in the morning.