Once again this year on Easter Sunday, 20 April 2025, one of the oldest and most evocative popular traditions in Florence is renewed: the Scoppio del carro. An event between the secular and the profane that attracts thousands of people every year.
On Easter Sunday morning, a giant cart, the so called brindellone is pulled by a pair of oxen adorned with flowers through the streets of Florence, preceded by a historic parade of 150 people in 15th century costume (soldiers, musicians, flag-wavers) and finally stops in Piazza del Duomo, between the Baptistery and the Cathedral. At 11 am, while the "Gloria" is being sung, the Archbishop lights up the Colombina (a rocket in the shape of a dove triggered by the holy fire) that starts flying from the altar down a wire outside the church, to reach the Cart in the square and set off the spectacular fireworks. The ancient cart disappears under the coloured lights, explosions and clouds of smoke… If the ritual goes smoothly and the Colombina goes back to the high altar good luck is ensured for the city and its citizens. The "Bursting of the cart" has its origins in the first Crusade (1099), whose objective was taking away the Jerusalem Holy Sepulchre from the rule of infidels. According to local tradition, the Florentine Pazzino de’ Pazzi was rewarded by the Commander for his courage, by giving him three chips of stone from the Holy Sepulchre. Once back home, the stones became object of worship: this reliquary is still preserved in the Church of SS. Apostoli, Every year on the evening of Saturday Easter Eve at 10 pm, these flints, carried in front of the Cathedral, are still used to light the Sacred Fire...the prelude to the Explosion of the Cart.
Since 1515, Florentines inaugurated a tradition still alive today: from the cart, placed between the Baptistery and the Cathedral, would start the fireworks spreading symbolically the Divine Light and the Blessing over the entire city.
8:00 p.m. - The Procession of the Florentine Republic's delegation departs from the Palagio di Parte Guelfa, continuing through Via Porta Rossa, Por Santa Maria, Via Vacchereccia, Piazza della Signoria.
8:10 pm - Piazza della Signoria, the Mayor joins the Procession of the Florentine Republic to reach the Church SS. Apostoli through Via Vacchereccia, Via Por Santa Maria, Borgo SS. Apostoli, Piazza del Limbo.
20:30 p.m. - Church SS. Apostoli: the Procession enters the Church for prayer, then with the Fire Carrier and the reliquary containing the Stones of the Holy Sepulchre, continues through Borgo SS. Apostoli, Via Por Santa Maria, Via Vacchereccia, Piazza della Signoria, Via Calzaiuoli, Piazza del Duomo.
20:55 p.m. - Cathedral Square: deployment of the procession on either side of the Central Gate where it joins the procession coming from the Sacristy to the Cathedral Square.
21:00 p.m. - Beginning of the vigil and lighting of the fire.
21:30 p.m. - The Procession returns through Via Calzaiuoli to its headquarter.
5.00 a.m - Arrival of the oxen at Cascine, Viale dell'Aeronautica.
6.15 a.m - Departure of the oxen from Cascine, Viale dell'Aeronautica
7.30 a.m - The "Carro del Fuoco", accompanied by the Historical Procession of the Florentine Republic, leaves from the depot in Via il Prato to reach Piazza Duomo along the following route: Via Il Prato, B.go Ognissanti, Piazza Goldoni, Via della Vigna Nuova, Via Strozzi, P.za della Repubblica, via Roma.
8.10 a.m - A representation of the Bandierai degli Uffizi (Uffizi flag-wavers), travelling along Via Porta Rossa - Via Calimala - Via Roma, reaches Piazza Duomo, where they are scheduled to perform with musicians while waiting for the procession coming, together with the "Carro del Fuoco", from Via Il Prato.
8.20 a.m - A representation of the Procession of the Florentine Republic leaves from the Piazzetta di Parte Guelfa, continuing along Via Porta Rossa, Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, Via Vacchereccia, P.za della Signoria where, at approximately 8.50am, together with the Banner, the Mayor and the Authorities, it moves towards Via Calzaiuoli, Via degli Speziali, Piazza della Repubblica, Via Roma, P.za Duomo, arriving at approximately 9.30am.
9.30 a.m - Arrival of the Historical Parade with the "Carro del Fuoco" in P.za Duomo
9.45 a.m - Drawing of lots for the matches of the Tournament of St John.
10:30 a.m. - The procession of the seminarians, Canons and Concelebrants makes its way to the cathedral forecourt, where the Easter Day Eucharistic celebration begins with the blessing of the Chariot of Fire and the faithful.
11.00 a.m - Explosion of the Cart.
11.30 p.m. - At the end of the event, part of the procession takes the bus to Via dei Vecchietti, part returns to the Palagio, following the following route: Piazza Duomo, Piazza San Giovanni, Via dei Pecori, Via Brunelleschi, Piazza della Repubblica, Via Pellicceria, Piazzetta di parte Guelfa.
12.30 p.m. - At the end of the Mass, the Banner, the Fire Carrier with the reliquary containing the Stones of the Holy Sepulchre, leave the central door of the Cathedral, proceeding along Via Calzaiuoli, Piazza Signoria, Via Vacchereccia, Borgo SS. Apostoli (Church SS. Apostoli) with the deposition of the Stones of the Holy Sepulchre.
Return of the Gonfalone to Palazzo Vecchio with reverse route to Piazza Signoria.
The Cart is accompanied to Via del Prato by the Municipal Police, following the reverse route.
