The Bursting of the cart - Lo scoppio del carro
Once again this year, on Easter Sunday, April 5th, 2026, one of the oldest and most evocative Florentine folk traditions returns: the Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart). It is an event that blends the sacred and the profane, drawing thousands of spectators every year.
According to tradition, the Florentine crusader Pazzino de’ Pazzi was rewarded for his courage with three flint shards from the Holy Sepulcher. Upon his return to Florence, these three precious relics quickly became objects of veneration (they are still preserved today in the Church of the Santissimi Apostoli). Using these very flints, the Sacred Fire is lit every year at 10:00 PM on Easter Saturday on the parvis of the Duomo—a prelude to the Explosion of the Cart.
On Easter morning, accompanied by the grand Historical Parade of the Florentine Republic, the Easter cart (known as the "Brindellone") is pulled by a pair of oxen through the city center streets, passing through Piazza Signoria and Piazza Repubblica until it reaches Piazza del Duomo, positioned between the Baptistery and the Cathedral.
At exactly 11:00 AM, as the Gloria is chanted during Holy Mass, the spectacle begins: the colombina, a mechanical little bird ignited by the Sacred Fire, departs from the high altar. It "flies" along a thin suspended cable, traveling the length of the main nave until it reaches the cart, triggering the fireworks—a joyful explosion of colored flashes, bangs, and clouds of smoke. The successful outcome of the entire ritual (including the colombina’s return to the altar) is interpreted as a good omen for the city.
While the rite has undergone various transformations over the centuries, we have witnessed essentially the same spectacle since 1515... a metaphor for blessing and the distribution of divine light throughout the city.
G. Monasta - Direzione Cultura Comune di Firenze
Appointments
Holy Saturday
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.
Bursting of the Cart
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.