25/03/2026
The Scoppio del Carro (“Explosion of the Cart”) is a traditional folk celebration in Florence. On Easter morning, a cart filled with fireworks and pyrotechnic devices is ignited, creating a historic spectacle that plays an important role in the city’s civic life.
Origins
The tradition dates back to the First Crusade, when European forces laid siege to Jerusalem. According to legend, the Florentine nobleman Pazzino de' Pazzi was the first to climb the city walls in 1097. As a reward for his bravery, he received three flints from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which were later brought back to Tuscany and are still kept in the Church of Santi Apostoli.
These stones were used to produce a “holy fire” at Easter, which was then carried through the city by groups of young men holding torches. Over time, this custom evolved: a cart carrying a large candle was brought to the cathedral to distribute the sacred fire. By the late 15th century, the celebration had taken on a form similar to what we see today.
Because the display of light and sound is considered a good omen for the harvest, farmers from the Florentine countryside still follow the event with great interest.
The celebration
On Easter morning, an antique cart about 9 meters (30 feet) tall — in use for more than 500 years — is transported from Porta al Prato to Piazza del Duomo. It is pulled by white oxen decorated with flowers and spring herbs, and accompanied by a procession of people dressed in Renaissance costumes, along with soldiers and musicians.
Meanwhile, the holy fire is lit in the Church of Santi Apostoli using the historic flints. It is then carried in procession to the square by members of the Pazzi family, clergy, and city officials.
The cart is prepared with fireworks and connected to the inside of the cathedral by a wire, along which a mechanical dove — called the “colombina” — runs. During the singing of the Gloria at Easter Mass, the archbishop lights the fuse of the colombina using the holy fire. The dove then travels through the church and ignites the cart outside.
Throughout the ceremony, the bells of the Giotto's Campanile ring out. The fireworks display that follows lasts about twenty minutes. A successful explosion is believed to bring good harvests, social stability, and economic prosperity.
