I tri da Cruci
One of the oldest festivals in Calabria, takes place on May 2nd and 3rd every year in Tropea, in the street in via Umberto I that local people call “u burgu” in the historic town. In past centuries, in various eras and for long periods, the Turks and Saracens kept this territory under their dominion, sowing terror among the coastal populations of Calabria.
Local people on several occasions managed and get better rid off of Turks/Saracens, driving them away from Tropea and setting fire of their ships. For almost half a century Tropea was subjected to Arab domination.
“Ucamiuzzu i focu” fire camel which recalled the real one used by the Turks to collect taxes in the occupied lands, a boat “a navi” which was blown up to conclude the celebrations to indicate the victory over the Turks.
La Madonna di Romania di Tropea
Holy Mary of Romania is celebrated on March 27 and September 9 with a solemn procession in which all the authorities and all the people are partecipating with great devotion. The Lady venerated for centuries and proclaimed patroness of Tropea. The picture in the center of the main apse of the norman baroque cathedral of Tropea, an icon revered and loved by the Tropea people. On September 9th every year the anniversary of the coronation of the sacred Icon, the procession that accompanies the venerated Image of the Madonna of Romania takes place through the streets of Tropea together with all the religious brotherhoods and associations.
Gruppo folk città di Tropea
The concerts and performances of the folk group popular tradition dance follow 21st and 22nd August every year from all around the world groups with the aim to encourage brotherhood, respect and approach to the cultural heritage of the various ethnic groups.
Liberation of Tropea 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 cause 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 23 August 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 is 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
