Country Article / Postcards
The Perfect Beach
Date: 10/25/2004Dear International Living Reader,
Italy south of Rome isn't included on many tourist itineraries to the Bel Paese, but underappreciated coastal villages like Tropea and Capo Vaticano offer plenty of attractions for your next Italian adventure…including a perfect beach and beautiful settings in which to learn the language.
Tropea, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, is known for its white-sand beaches, beautiful rock formations, and caves. Indeed, Tropea was recently given a perfect five "sails" out of five by Italian environmental group Legambiente's beach guide, which rates Italy's beaches for natural beauty, pollution, tourist facilities, and noise levels. You'll also find all the quaintness of a southern Italian village in Tropea's winding streets, traditional trattorias, and medieval remnants.
Farther south along the coast is the village of Capo Vaticano, literally the "place of prophecy." Hercules, Aeneas, and Ulysses often stopped here for advice before attempting to cross the Straits of Messina, infamous for monsters and mermaids. Capo Vaticano sits between the gulfs of Gioia Tauro and Sant'Eufemia, from where you can view the Aeolian Islands, including Stromboli.
Both Tropea and Capo Vaticano have schools with premier instructors and good locations, and offer different levels of Italian language instruction according to your proficiency. Two of the best in the area are Villa Dante School and Caffè Italiano Club.
Michelle Kaminsky
For International Living
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