Events in Tropea

I Tri da Cruci

I Tri da Cruci is one of the oldest festivals in Calabria, the cult of the Cross was included in the religious calendar by Pope Sylvester in the 4th century under the name Inventione, precisely on May 3rd. Later, it was abolished as a form of worship, but it remained in the people’s memory, who, as happened in Tropea, continued to celebrate this occasion.

In fact, in the suburb of the city there was a small cylindrical church that resembled a little tower and had three doors. Inside, on the single altar, there were three crosses: one in the center and two smaller ones on the sides. Hence the name of the festival.

The church collapsed following a hurricane that occurred in 1875. The townspeople worked to remove the rubble and recover the crosses, which were then taken to the Church of Purgatory.

It unfolds on Via Umberto I, known as “u burgu” among the locals, situated in the historic town. Throughout various centuries and extended periods, the Turks and Saracens maintained dominion over this region, instilling fear among the coastal communities of Calabria.

Local residents successfully repelled the Turks and Saracens on multiple occasions, driving them away from Tropea and destroying their ships. Tropea endured almost half a century of Arab domination.

The festival features “U camiuzzu i focu,” a fire camel reminiscent of the real ones employed by the Turks to collect taxes in the occupied lands, and a boat, “a navi,” which is detonated to conclude the celebrations, symbolizing victory over the Turks.

La Madonna di Romania di Tropea

La Madonna di Romania is venerated on September 9th with a solemn procession in which all the authorities, the people of Tropea, the associations, and the confraternities of the entire diocese participate with great devotion. On March 27th, instead, the anniversary of the earthquake from which, thanks to the Virgin, the city of Tropea was saved is commemorated. The painting of the Madonna, of Eastern origin and dating back to around 787, has been venerated for centuries and was proclaimed patroness of the city of Tropea on September 9th, 1877.

According to tradition, the painting arrived by sea aboard a ship that, upon passing in front of the city walls, suddenly stopped and could not continue its journey. The Bishop of the city dreamt of the Virgin, who asked him to remain in Tropea and become its Protector. The dream was repeated for several nights, and finally, the Bishop, after summoning the authorities and citizens, went to the port to retrieve the painting of the Madonna. As soon as the painting was brought ashore, the ship set sail again. This event was interpreted as a sign of the Holy Virgin’s will to be venerated in the city of Tropea, and the people, joyful and grateful, welcomed the sacred image with deep devotion.

The devotion of Tropea toward this image is immense, and over the centuries numerous miracles have been attributed to the Madonna, including protection from plagues, earthquakes, famines, and other calamities. The Madonna of Romania was also said to have appeared in the dreams of bishops, predicting events such as earthquakes, thereby helping to save the city.

During World War II, in 1943, the supposed protection of the Madonna of Romania was manifested when six bombs dropped on the city failed to explode. This event was interpreted as a miracle, further strengthening the aura of devotion surrounding the sacred image. Today, two of the six unexploded bombs are preserved in the Cathedral of Tropea as a testament to the extraordinary spiritual power of the ancient patroness. On the evening of September 8th, the announcement of the armistice suddenly changed the situation, and the people of Tropea flocked to the Cathedral to thank the Madonna.

Gruppo folk città di Tropea

The folk group ‘Città di Tropea’ organizes concerts and traditional dance performances on the 21st and 22nd of August every year, featuring groups from around the world. The goal is to promote brotherhood, respect, and an appreciation for the cultural heritage of various ethnic groups.

The Liberation of Tropea in 1615

In 1612, the Viceroy of Naples, Count of Lemos, sold Tropea and all its territory to Prince Vincenzo Ruffo for 191,041 ducats. Tropea, after centuries of political and economic autonomy, became a fief of the Ruffo family. At the same time, the expert jurist Luigi Lauro was sent to the Court of Spain to plead the case of the inadmissibility of the deed of sale by the viceroy; another jurist, Ferdinando d’Aquino, was sent by the latter. On November 13, 1613, the Supreme Council of Italy received the previously favorable sentence: the deed had been stipulated without the consent of the King of Spain. For the occasion, the marble statue of the Madonna della Libertà was consecrated as an ex voto, still present today in the left aisle of the Cathedral.

After some appeals from Ruffo, on August 23, 1615, the Royal Rescript was received from Valladolid; Philip III declared Tropea and its territory unsaleable. The reasons were that Tropea, given its age-old loyalty to the Crown of Spain, had to remain free for its own: Antiquity, Beauty, and Nobility. On August 23, 1615, Tropea was free. After a three-year legal battle, the city became state property again thanks to the cancellation of the deed of sale to Prince Ruffo di Scilla. From then on, it would continue to be a royal city, always faithful to the crown and free from any feudal yoke.

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