Nowadays, the building is a five-star boutique hotel calledVilla Paola.
Tropea seems to have a way of enchanting people.
Known as the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian, this village casts a siren call.
Credit:Laura Itzkowitz/Travel + Leisure
During our time there, I felt its irresistible pull and Im not the only one.
With that, the evening was transformed from pleasant to unforgettable.
Long tendrils of caper vines hang on the stone walls and bursts of fuchsia bougainvillea shock the senses.
Laura Itzkowitz/Travel + Leisure
But unlike Taormina, Tropea is still relatively under-the-radar.
Like Taormina, Tropea is a hilltop village perched above the sea.
Yet the village is shrouded in myths and legends.
Laura Itzkowitz/Travel + Leisure
One of the most important towns on the Coast of the Gods, Tropea was supposedly founded by Hercules.
The region was part of Magna Graecia, with Greeks living here before the Romans.
Nowadays, its best known for its pristine beaches and its prized red onions.
Laura Itzkowitz/Travel + Leisure
As soon as I waded in, I spotted little fish swimming around me an extremely unusual sight.
A mermaid swimming in the gentle waves.
Or rather, a tween wearing a mermaid tail.
Laura Itzkowitz/Travel + Leisure
Apparently, her daughter has been obsessed with them since she was a little girl.
Mermaids, monks, and gods these are some of the characters you might encounter in and around Tropea.
When it came time to check out of Villa Paola the next day, we didnt want to leave.
The tranquil setting combined with an invisible energetic force had cast its spell.
If stored in a cool, dry place, theyll last until Christmas, the woman there told us.
After that, well just have to return for more magic and onions.
