On May 3, 2025, the picturesque town of Santa Fiora, in the province of Grosseto, is preparing to celebrate one of its most heartfelt and evocative events: the traditional Feast of the Crosses. This festival, deeply rooted in the history and faith of the local community, represents a moment of great devotion and collective participation.

The heart of the celebration is the solemn religious procession that involves the entire population. The central element of the procession is the venerated wooden Holy Crucifix, flanked by three other distinctive crucifixes, affectionately called "trunks." The latter are particularly striking: they are large, lumpy-looking crosses, the carrying of which is an act of strength and faith, as each is carried on the shoulders of a single man, supported by a special leather jockstrap tied around the waist.

The organization of this complex and heartfelt procession is entrusted to the town's three historic confraternities: that of St. Michael the Archangel, the Blessed Sacrament, and the Misericordia, testifying to the unbreakable bond between the festival and Santa Fiora's religious and social institutions.

Devotion to the Most Holy Crucifix is also fueled by the memory of events believed to be miraculous, such as the protection granted to the people of Santa Fiora during the violent earthquake of 1778. This feast, moreover, is part of a wider tradition, being celebrated in other places as well, particularly in Spain and Latin America, often in conjunction with the anniversary of the discovery of the cross of Christ.

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