The return of a fighter

After years of turmoil, Giovanni Macrì returns as Mayor of Tropea with renewed strength, advancing a vision centred on tourism, local identity, international visibility, and community pride for one of Calabria’s most iconic towns.

Giovanni Macrì, a native of Tropea, has long viewed politics not simply as an administrative function but as a form of public service. Guided by a strong sense of civic responsibility and a commitment to his community, he has dedicated much of his life to local government and the development of his hometown.

His passion for public service began early and developed through diverse political perspectives yet all united by a common principle: politics with a capital “P” understood as service, responsibility, and dedication to the community—especially to those who are most in need, on the belief that a community grows only when it grows together.

At a very young age, he entered local administrative life, participating in municipal elections and later being elected as a majority council member. He subsequently served as Councillor for the Environment and Deputy Mayor. He later ran for mayor, narrowly missing election. This experience reinforced his engagement in public life through an active and constructive opposition.

In 2018, he was elected Mayor of Tropea at the head of the “Forza Tropea” list, launching an administrative path that developed into a broader cultural and identity-driven vision for the city. The aim was to look beyond Tropea’s role as an exceptional seaside resort and strengthen its international position through cultural initiatives, sustainability models, and improved quality of life.

This approach was referred to by many as “The Tropea Model.” It challenged the cultural limitations that have often held Southern Italy back and instead focused on local identity, environmental care and respect for the land. It promoted a city to live in and to love, and a form of tourism that values authenticity and lived experience over mass consumption.

In this context, Tropea received growing international attention. For example, The Daily Telegraph included it in its Travel Bucket List, encouraging British travellers to “say goodbye to Amalfi and hello to Tropea,” suggesting it as an alternative to other overcrowded Italian destinations. This was a significant acknowledgment, highlighting the very objective the Macrì administration wanted to achieve: to position Tropea as a place with a distinct cultural and environmental identity.

This vision gave rise to a form of “Governance of Beauty,” with initiatives centred on civic participation and environmental care, including the creation of the Volunteer Corps of the Principality of Tropea—a group of citizens which, led by the mayor and always with a smile, dedicated every public holiday to the maintenance and cleaning of public spaces. These initiatives promoted a message of collective responsibility for the city: to love a place means taking care of it.

Over the years, Tropea received several important recognitions, including the Blue Flag designation from 2020 onward, inclusion among Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages in 2021, and awards from organisations such as Legambiente and the Touring Club, among many others. These acknowledgements contributed to strengthening its image as a model of sustainability, hospitality, and quality of life.

At the same time, the city developed a stronger international profile through institutional relations and cultural exchanges with Calabrian communities abroad, including connections with France, Canada, and Japan. Its presence at international events in Nice, together with its relationships with Toronto and Minami-Awaji, supported the broader efforts of the Tropea project in tourism promotion and cultural dialogue.

Several urban renewal projects were also carried out, including the redevelopment of