Santa Maria dell’Isola in Tropea
Santa Maria dell’Isola is without a doubt one of the symbols of Tropea. The intrigue and beauty of this popular Calabrian seaside town situated on La Costa Degli Dei (Coast of the Gods) are in part thanks to this marvelous church built on an “island”.
I say “island” because it isn’t an island anymore, but at one time it was completely detached from the mainland and surrounded by the spectacular sea that still hugs part of it today.
This humble sanctuary, dedicated to Santa Maria dell’Isola, sits on a sandstone rock facing the town of Tropea built on the rocky cliffs opposite it.
There isn’t anything certain to pinpoint the exact origins of this church. It seems the church dates back to the Byzantine period. But, some researchers that before the construction of the church, it was home to Greek hermit monks. The church was donated to the Abbey of Montecassino in 1066 and is still the property of the Abbey today.
The church you see today is not what it once looked like. It underwent many renovations and was rebuilt after a devasting earthquake in 1905.
To visit this quaint sanctuary, you must climb a series of steps carved into the rock. It may seem difficult, but the views and the sweet breeze from the sea make it a pleasurable hike up. In the past, the path to the church was a ramp. The rocky stairs were added in around 1810.
The grand exterior of the church is very simple – the color and lines allow it to stand out from the impressive panorama of the area. The large piazza in front of the entrance gives you a great view. It’s also the perfect place to snap some pics of Tropea from a different perspective.
As you pass through the porticos, look up! You will see a few frescos of the sanctuary at different points in history.
The simplicity of Santa Maria dell’Isola captured my attention instantly. It is both charming and unexpected. The interior seems much smaller than its large exterior.
Inside you’ll find the main altar, with three 18th Century life-sized wooden statues depicting the Holy Family. During the procession in August, these statues are carried from the church onto a small boat that takes them out into the sea and then onto the beach.
If you are facing the altar, turn around and look up to see a small wooden organ sitting on a loft.
As you make your way around the interior of the church, you’ll find contrasting elements. On one of the walls, you’ll find parts of medieval tombstones. The one to the left is a small rectangular Byzantine tombstone. To its right, you’ll see three circles – the middle circle depicting L’Ecce Homo (Jesus bound and crowned with thorns) and the two outer circles with figures of women. Below that a depiction of Maestro di Mileto (14th-century sculptor).
In addition to the church, you can visit the church gardens and panoramic terrace, however, you need a ticket (see below).
Admission and Hours of Operation:
The church is open to the public and doesn’t acquire admission. The hours of operation vary depending on the season, so I suggest checking their official website for times. This is an active church, so you can’t visit the church during the services.
Admission to the garden and the panoramic terrace is only € 2.00. They stop access to the garden 30 minutes before the church’s closing time.
Note: I haven’t visited the gardens or terrace so I can’t say if it’s worth the price. If anyone has, let me know in the comments your thoughts!
Santa Maria dell’Isola is worth a visit, offering spectacular views of the surrounding area as well as a moment to relax and enjoy the beauty of Tropea.
Come along with me to Tropea and see why it was named one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Hamlets in 2021.
For more pictures, head on over to the Calabrisella Mia Facebook Page!
Comments are closed.
Subhashish Roy
January 24, 2020 at 12:06 pmWhat a beautiful island and such a lovely church. You pictures are awesome. It’s nice to learn about Calabria through your posts.
LuLu
January 25, 2020 at 9:26 amThank you so much! I really appreciate your comment, I’m so happy I can promote and share Calabria with you! 🙂
Melanie williams
January 24, 2020 at 11:52 amOh wow this looks like a beautiful part of the world for sure. Love all your piccys too by the way x
Krystel | Frugal Living
January 23, 2020 at 6:48 pmI have never been to Tropea but it looks amazing. I need to check out that church as well
The Sunny Side Lifestyle Co.
January 23, 2020 at 3:21 pmThank you for this article! I’m in the planning stages of a trip to Italy so this was timed perfectly! One of my favorite vacation pastimes is to explore seaside towns. Hiking up to the church of Santa Maria dell’Isola sounds like a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.
LuLu
January 24, 2020 at 8:02 amI’m so glad this blog post could give you a bit of inspiration while planning your trip to Italy! If you want to explore Calabria, I would definitely recommend a stop in Tropea. I’ve seen many people stop there on their way south to Sicily!
Dreams Abroad
January 22, 2020 at 9:55 pmSanta Maria dell’Isola is pretty amazing by the photos you took. I love small towns with old churches.
LuLu
January 24, 2020 at 8:01 amI’m like you, I adore exploring small towns and hamlets that have these old churches. Many of them still have original pieces and have been upgraded or renovated, which is always a nice thing! 🙂
Ivana Mearns
January 22, 2020 at 3:17 pmWhat a charming place! I love byzantine style, I wish I could live in a town like this! Maybe I will be able to at least visit this pretty place sometime soon.
LuLu
January 24, 2020 at 7:59 amI would definitely recommend Tropea if you are curious to explore this region! The food here is AMAZING and the waters are crystal clear! It’s the perfect vacation spot in Calabria! 🙂
Lyosha
January 22, 2020 at 1:56 pmThe place looks wonderful! I totally want to travel there now, looks so welcoming! The church is a wonder!
Yasinta
January 22, 2020 at 7:43 amIts too beautiful. I just wonder how it looks big on the outside and small in the inside. Fascinating. With that beauty, I wouldn’t miss a mass. Hahaaa
LuLu
January 24, 2020 at 7:58 amI wondered the exact same thing when I walked in. Hahaha I wonder if it’s standing room only during mass!?
Kelly Martin
January 22, 2020 at 5:08 amWow, Santa Maria dell’Isola looks amazing! I love the spectacular views and hearing about the history of the church was really interesting. Definitely somewhere I’d love to visit.
Kileen
January 22, 2020 at 4:42 amThis looks like an amazing place to visit! These pics are so gorgeous!!
Kileen
cute & little
Kayleigh
January 21, 2020 at 9:34 pmHow freakin cool is that? And a gorgeous spot! Old churches are so fascinating. I bet the spiritual atmosphere is amazing too.
LuLu
January 24, 2020 at 7:55 amIt’s so quiet and peaceful inside. It was a pleasant surprise!
Luna S
January 21, 2020 at 6:31 pmHoly cow, what a vacation this would be! It looks like an amazing place to visit and explore, thanks for sharing this with us.
LuLu
January 24, 2020 at 7:54 amThanks, Luna! Tropea is a great southern Italy tourist destination because it has so much to offer: food, beach, old town….It’s also very tourist-friendly so it’s a good intro for visiting Calabria!
Scott DeNicola
January 21, 2020 at 4:18 pmI am not an overly religious person but there is something about the splendor of the old churches. Plus with The Sanctuary of Saint Mary ‘dell’Isola you get a workout while on your way to the church itself. Win win! 🙂 The history of that church (18th century) and the generations of people that passed through its doors in mind-blowing. Love the old statues and the views. I always make it a point whenever and wherever I travel to visit the old churches. Such history.
LuLu
January 24, 2020 at 7:53 amIt really is incredible to think of the generations before us climbing the steps (or in the beginning stages the hill). I really liked the simplicity of this church, it was a nice surprise!
Laura Linklater
January 21, 2020 at 3:41 pmWhat a beautiful place! And thank you so much for your write up and the tour of the church – I really feel like I got a great insight into it. Love the pictures too (and that blue sky… wow!)
LuLu
January 24, 2020 at 7:51 amThank you so much Laura, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! This church on an island is so iconic for Tropea, it was a pleasure to visit it finally. Plus, the views from there are incredible!
Ian Harrison
September 1, 2019 at 6:49 pmIt looks as if Tropea is accessible by train? Is this correct?
LuLu
September 3, 2019 at 11:18 amHi Ian, Yes, it is! From the Paola station, there are trains that run quite regularly, however, the prices vary considerably depending on the time and which trains you are taking. Also, this year, Trenitalia has also created a dedicated train called TropeaLine which departs from the Lamezia Terme station and goes along the Costa degli Dei. From the Tropea train station to the square overlooking the Sanctuary, it’s about a 15-minute walk.
Here is the link (info is in Italian) for the TropeaLine: https://www.trenitalia.com/it/treni_regionali/calabria/tropea-line.html
Image Earth Travel
August 27, 2019 at 2:26 pmGreat write-up! Although I’ve been to Tropea, I’m yet to climb up to the church for a visit.
Always another bus ride from Cosenza… 😉
LuLu
August 28, 2019 at 8:49 amNext time you are there, you should check it out! 🙂 The views from the piazza in front of the church are incredible!