the garden`The Three Crosses`
Every year, on 3 May, at Tropea there is the festival called I Tri Da Cruci (the Three Crosses). Its name originates from the three wooden crosses that, after the collapse of the small holy building in which they were housed, were later placed in the church of the souls in purgatory and nowadays are still objects of great veneration. The festival, set in the period of the Saracen invasions, refers to various episodes in the history of Tropea, especially to the participation of many of its townspeople in the Battle of Lepanto. Among these citizens, Colonel Gaspare Toraldo particularly distinguished himself, who captured a Moorish ship, capturing 30 men and their captain, the Rais Zesbinassan. Moreover, tradition has it that the return of the Tropean men was heralded by a dove, that the victors freed to announce the victory of the cross over the half moon. This event led to the definitive liberation of Tropea from the infidel. During the festival therefore, the driving away of the Saracens is acted out and, in particular, the capture of the tax official who, hated by everyone, is led through the streets of the town on a camel collecting taxes. The infidel, impersonated by an effigy stuffed with fireworks, is followed by the "borghigiani", who finally manage to unseat him and set him alight.
