La Santa

Lore & Background

The Santa was an innovation in the traditional stratification of the 'Ndrangheta introduced in the early 1970s to maximize the power and invisibility of the most important bosses. Security concerns led to the creation of a secret society within the secret society. Membership in the Santa is only known to other members. Contrary to the 'Ndrangheta code, it allowed bosses to establish close connections with state representatives, even to the extent that some were affiliated with the Santa.

These connections were often established through the Freemasonry, which the santisti – breaking another rule of the traditional code – were allowed to join. The rank of santista was established at the end of the 1960s by Girolamo Piromalli and by the chiefs of several other families. The Santa was originally set up as an exclusive body restricted to 33 people. Only when a santista died another member was allowed to enter it.

As the years went by, an inflation took place in assigning the status of santista. Around 1978, a new higher rank was established: the vangelo. Later this was followed by the institution of the position of trequartino (three-quarters) or quintino (fifth). Finally, the current highest rank of associazione (society) was established – reserved for the supreme bosses of the 'Ndrangheta.

Reader's Guide

The Santa is a secret society within the 'Ndrangheta. It was opposed by more traditionalist bosses such as Antonio Macrì and Domenico Tripodo. Only at the end of the so-called First 'Ndrangheta war, which took place in 1974-76 and led to their deaths and the consequent rise of the De Stefano brothers, was the new institution fully recognized.