L'uomo senza testa di Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez got its name from an early Christian martyr, Saint Torpes of Pisa. Saint Torpes was a tax collector for the Roman Emperor Nero. As legend has it, he was a sort-of Robin Hood, collecting tax money (which often included beatings) in the name of Nero, and going out after dark to give handouts to the poor.

In the year 68, Paul the Apostle convertì Torpes al cristianesimo, che poi professò la sua nuova fede a Nerone durante una cerimonia pagana. Nerone gli ordinò di rinunciare alla sua fede e, quando si rifiutò, ordinò la sua decapitazione.

Saint Torpes’ head was tossed into the Arno, a river in Tuscany, and his body was sent out into the Mediterranean on a rotten boat with a rooster and a dog, who they expected to further desecrate the body.

In quella che oggi è chiamata Saint-Tropez, una santa donna sognò l'arrivo del corpo e lo raccontò agli abitanti del villaggio. Si pensava che il suo corpo sarebbe stato mangiato, ma quando giunse nel luogo in cui oggi sorge la città, non lontano dal cimitero dei marinai, rimase intatto dopo il suo viaggio di 18 giorni.

Gli abitanti del posto videro questo come un segno della rettitudine di Torpes e chiamarono il loro villaggio in suo onore (Saint Tropez è un modo francese di dire il suo nome). San Torpes fu anche proclamato santo patrono dei marinai.

Amazingly, the animals somehow lived; the cock flew away towards the village later named Cogolin  (meaning “little rooster”) after it, and the dog headed towards the town that became Grimaud (“old dog”), later named in honor of this dog.

To this day, there are still two festivals to celebrate Torpes:

In mid-May, at a festival called Les Bravades (which commemorates the time of the creation of the army and its achievements — and involves plenty of gunfire), locals parade his bust down the streets to venerate him. Les Bravades dates to the 15th century and is a traditional (and loud) Provencal religious and military celebration held over three days each May. Apparently, it gives grown men a good excuse to don old military uniforms and fire muskets. Backed by a drum corps, parades and jubilant onlookers, this celebration is a beloved St-Tropez event, honoring military history as well as the town’s patron saint, Saint Torpes, whose bust is marched through the narrow lanes.

And in mid-June he is celebrated during ceremonies to commemorate the victory of the Tropezian militia over the Spaniards in 1673.

The iconic and oft-photographed bell tower of St-Tropez belongs to the Italian baroque-style Notre Dame de l’Assomption , which contains a wooden bust of Saint Torpes.

Ne vuoi di più? Read our guide to St-Tropez’s modern history, the crazy stories of the slaves, pirates and painters in St. Tropez’s ancient history, and learn about the scandal that made St-Tropez famous.