The Romans built a commercial port in Formicoli, approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Tropea.

An unconfirmed story asserts that it was carried aboard a ship sailing from the Eastern Roman Empire, when the boat was driven into the port of Tropea by a storm.

The bishop of the city, Ambrogio Cordova, dreamed repeatedly that the Virgin Mary was asking him to keep her in Tropea and to protect her.

The Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to the bishop several times in his dreams, warning him of an earthquake that would devastate Calabria.

On 27 March 1638, a bishop organised a penitential procession for the people from Tropea, which meant they were out of harm's way when the earthquake struck.