{"id":26021,"date":"2026-06-05T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colorfest.it\/?p=26021"},"modified":"2026-06-08T17:39:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T15:39:26","slug":"tropea-capo-vaticano-pizzo-a-colourful-festive-outing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/colorfest.it\/en\/tropea-capo-vaticano-pizzo-gita-color-fest\/","title":{"rendered":"Tropea, Capo Vaticano, Pizzo: a day trip from the Color Fest"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tropea<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you're looking for the The perfect day trip from the Colour Fest<\/strong>, the itinerary Pizzo Calabro<\/strong>, Tropea<\/strong> e Capo Vaticano<\/strong> That\u2019s the answer. Three of the most iconic locations in Coast of the Gods<\/strong>, the section of The Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria<\/strong> which many consider to be the most beautiful in Italy, all within a few kilometres of Lamezia Terme<\/strong>. The Colour Fest 14<\/strong> the\u201911, 12 and 13 August 2026<\/strong> on Falcone and Borsellino promenade<\/strong>, the Riviera of Sunsets<\/strong>: a day off \u2014 perhaps the 14 August<\/strong>, \u2026 after the final night of concerts \u2014 it\u2019s the perfect opportunity to explore this little corner of paradise before heading home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide you will find a full itinerary<\/strong>, recommended times, must-see beaches, what to eat and all the practical information you need to get around. The layout is simple and logical: we start with Lace<\/strong> in the morning, you go down to Tropea<\/strong> for lunch and a tour of the village, and closes at Capo Vaticano<\/strong> for an afternoon on the beach and the sunset over the Aeolian Islands<\/strong>. All in one day, all by 60 minutes<\/strong> by car from the heart of the festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pizzo Calabro: the village of frozen truffles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Parghelia,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First stop: Pizzo Calabro<\/strong>, at about 30 minutes<\/strong> from Lamezia Terme<\/strong>. It is a village perched above the sea, in the province of Vibo Valentia<\/strong>, with narrow alleyways and picturesque little squares overlooking the Tyrrhenian<\/strong> and a view that, on clear days, stretches as far as Aeolian Islands<\/strong>. The heart of the village is the Republic Square<\/strong>, dominated by Murat Castle<\/strong>: the fortress takes its name from Joachim Murat<\/strong>, the former King of Naples, who was captured and shot right here in 1815<\/strong>. Today it houses a museum featuring memorabilia, documents and historical reconstructions that is well worth a visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But people come to Pizzo mainly for one thing: the truffle of Pizzo<\/strong>. It is a spherical ice cream with a centre of melted chocolate<\/strong> and a surface covered with unsweetened cocoa<\/strong>. Invented here and copied all over the world, it has achieved 2006<\/strong> the award PGI<\/strong>: the first ice cream in Europe to boast this certification. Sitting in one of the historic ice cream parlours on the square, ordering a tartufo and gazing out at the sea is one of those moments you\u2019ll cherish forever. If you have time, do pop down to the The little church of Piedigrotta<\/strong>, carved out of tuff just a stone\u2019s throw from the beach: a small, folk-art masterpiece of sacred sculptures, begun around 1880<\/strong> by the artist Angelo Barone<\/strong> and continued for decades by his heirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tropea: Calabria\u2019s picture-postcard destination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Capo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From Pizzo to Tropea<\/strong> there are others 30 minutes<\/strong> roughly along the coast. Nicknamed the The Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea<\/strong>, Tropea is probably the most photographed village in Calabria<\/strong>, and you\u2019ll understand why as soon as you reach the viewpoint: the Shrine of Santa Maria dell'Isola<\/strong>, a Benedictine monastery perched on a rock jutting out into the sea, opposite the Rotunda Beach<\/strong>. It is the city\u2019s landmark and one of the most recognisable sights in Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The historic centre<\/strong>, built on a tuff terrace at an altitude of over 60 metres<\/strong> Overlooking the sea, it is a maze of narrow streets, stately buildings, grand staircases and four breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the coast. Among the shops, you\u2019ll find the products that have made this region famous: the incredibly sweet Tropea Red Onion PGI<\/strong> \u2014 used in salads, jams and even ice cream \u2014 and the \u2018Spilinga \u2018nduja<\/strong>, the spicy spreadable cured meat that is the hallmark of Calabrian cuisine. As for swimming, the beaches are right at the foot of the village: the aforementioned Rotunda Beach<\/strong> and the Cannone Beach<\/strong>, both with that pale sand and turquoise water that seem out of place in the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Capo Vaticano: idyllic beaches and sunsets over the Aeolian Islands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The final and most spectacular stage: Capo Vaticano<\/strong>, in the municipality of Ricadi<\/strong>, about ten minutes from Tropea. It is the most scenic stretch of the entire Coast of the Gods<\/strong>, consisting of granite headlands overlooking the sea, hidden coves accessible only by boat and viewpoints<\/strong> from which, on clear days, one can see the Strait of Messina<\/strong>, the Sicily and Mount Etna<\/strong> and the Aeolian Islands<\/strong> suspended on the horizon. It is here that the sunset<\/strong> becomes the highlight of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beaches you really shouldn\u2019t miss are, above all, Caves<\/strong> \u2014 regularly ranked among the most beautiful in Italy \u2014 with its white sandy coves, rocky outcrops and emerald waters. Boat trips also depart from Grotticelle, allowing visitors to explore caves and inlets that would otherwise be inaccessible. Capo Vaticano frequently features in the rankings of the the world's most beautiful beaches<\/strong>: and as soon as you set foot there, you immediately understand why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The itinerary at a glance: what to see and where<\/h3>\n\n\n\n