Tropea - Concattedrale di Maria Santissima di Romania

A legend has it that the city was founded by Hercules when he returned from his work on the Pillars of Hercules.

The settlement has been the seat of a diocese since the 7th century. In 1094 a Latin clergyman succeeded the Greek bishops for the first time. Around 1000 Tropea developed into a prosperous city, favored by tax and administrative freedom.

In the 13th century, Tropea was rebuilt to its current state, on a rock overlooking the sea to protect it from Saracen incursions. Over the centuries, regular earthquakes caused severe damage on the city, causing the residents to rebuild the city on top of the ruins after each tremor.

In the 19th century, the city began to decline for a long time, which could only be reversed with the start of tourism. Today this is a seaside resort, and due to its location and the well-preserved old town, Tropea is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Calabria.

The Cathedral of Tropea is a former Episcopal church built by the Normans on the foundations of an older Byzantine church. Today the church is the concathedral of the Diocese of Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea.

It is dedicated to "Saint Mary of Romania" (Italian: Maria Ss. di Romania), a miraculous image of the Madonna that is said to have saved Tropea from the effects of a severe earthquake in 1638. It was also active during WW II, when of the 6 bombs that hit Tropea, none exploded.

However being severely damaged by an earthquake in 1905, the cathedral was thoroughly restored. The original appearance was reconstructed and the baroque elements were removed.