One of Italy's youngest provinces: it was carved out of the province of Catanzaro on 6 March 1992, the same day as Crotone, and only started working in 1995, when its first council was elected. Its 50 municipalities face west onto the Tyrrhenian Sea, with the ground rising inland behind the coast; the capital, Vibo Valentia, sits just above the shore.
The name that travels, though, is Tropea: the town on its rock face, and below it the islet crowned by the sanctuary of Santa Maria dell'Isola, the picture that ends up on every Calabrian postcard. Pizzo, a few kilometres north, is where the tartufo ice cream comes from. Inland lie Mileto and Serra San Bruno, and Nicotera closes the coast at the southern end.
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Our editors' ranking: the area's most important places, drawn from the individual town guides. See the national rankings →
1 ⛪ Churches & sanctuaries Santa Maria dell'Isola 📍 Tropea Founded in the 7th century on a sandstone rock, this former Byzantine retreat preserves ancient tombstone fragments. 
2 ⛪ Churches & sanctuaries Concattedrale di Maria Santissima di Romania 📍 Tropea The Norman cathedral with two unexploded bombs from 1943 kept inside. Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
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📅 Every year, on 4 November
On 4 November Zambrone celebrates its patron Saint Charles Borromeo; the municipality's other hamlets have their own patrons and dates, including Saint Charles Borromeo again in Madama, but on 5 September.
📅 Every year, on 5 November
Ricadi celebrates Saint Zechariah on 5 November.
📅 Every year, on 11 November (Saint Martin) and 8 August (Saint Dominic)
On 11 November, in the hamlet of the same name, Soriano Calabro celebrates Saint Martin of Tours; the town's other patron, Saint Dominic de Guzmán, is celebrated on 8 August.
📅 Every year, on 30 November
On 30 November Parghelia celebrates its patron Saint Andrew the Apostle; the day before, the town holds the traditional chestnut throwing from the bell tower.
