Shrine of Santa Maria dell'Isola

The rock on which stands the Shrine of Santa Maria dell'Isola, in Tropea (VV), is one of the most representative tourist icons of Calabria.

It can be admired from the Affaccio dei Sospiri, the little terrace overlooking the sea that can be reached by walking along the main street of the village, one of the most romantic panoramic viewpoints in the region. The access staircase to the Shrine of Santa Maria dell'Isola is carved directly into the rock. Before the 19th century, it was accessed by the ramp that runs alongside the rock church of St. Leonard and other small caves dug by sailors as warehouses.

Like all Marian Shrines in Calabria, the one in Tropea has ancient origins, perhaps predating the 11th century. The interior housed several medieval tombs: the first known as the tomb of the "Master of Miletus", the second depicting Ecce Homo with two female figures, and a third Byzantine one.

The original Byzantine structure of the church has been replaced over the centuries by the present, three-nave basilica with pillars and a barrel vault.