Scoppio del Carro Festival

A wonderful 900-year-old Easter tradition
Talk of the town: Local legend says that a successful fireworks display guarantees a year of good harvests, great business and healthy living. A failed display, on the other hand...

Literally translated as ‘wagon explosion’, Scoppio del Carro is an annual folk fest quite unlike any other. The tradition began way back in 1097, when brave Florentine knight Pazzino dei Pazzi returned from the First Crusade in Jerusalem with a reward of three holy flints from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which were then used to light a flame. In the 15th century this solitary flame became a wagon full of fireworks, and a new Easter celebration was born.
Every Easter Sunday morning, the 500-year-old cart is pulled by white oxen from the Porta al Prato to Piazza del Duomo, where it is loaded with fireworks. The Cardinal of Florence then lights a flame from the flints, which ignites the fireworks to begin a truly elaborate display. Florence comes to a standstill for the historic, symbolic festival, and if you're in town for Easter, you literally won't be able to miss it.