Florence Scoppio del Carro - Easter 2026

The Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart) is Florence’s most theatrical Easter tradition, staged in Piazza del Duomo on Easter Sunday. In 2026 that falls on 5 April. The spectacle has been performed annually for over 350 years and draws thousands of Florentines alongside international visitors to the square in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

What happens

At the heart of the ceremony is a wooden cart called the Brindellone — a tall, ornate structure decorated in late medieval style and packed with fireworks. The cart is drawn by two white oxen from Porta al Prato through the city’s streets to Piazza del Duomo, arriving in the morning hours before the main ceremony.

During the Gloria of Easter Mass inside the Duomo — at around 11:00 — the Archbishop of Florence ignites a mechanical dove called the colombina from the high altar. The dove travels along a wire from inside the cathedral through the open doors and across the square to the cart. When it reaches the Brindellone and ignites the fuse, the cart erupts into a cascade of rockets, fountains, and spinning wheels of fire. The entire display lasts around 20 minutes.

Local tradition holds that a clean, successful ignition — colombina reaching the cart first time, full fireworks display without incident — is a good omen for the year’s harvest. The superstition dates from the agricultural society of medieval Tuscany and remains part of the event’s mythology.

Watching the ceremony

The square fills quickly; arrive by 09:00 to secure a good position near the central walkway where the oxen are paraded. The best viewing spots are along the sides of the white marble walkway that connects the cathedral doors to the cart. There is no ticketing for watching from the square — the event is free and public. However, if you want a view from above, some cafes and hotels bordering the square offer reserved window seats, bookable well in advance.

The parade of ox cart and accompanying standard-bearers in Renaissance costume begins earlier in the morning and is worth watching as a standalone spectacle.

Getting there and practical notes

Florence’s Piazza del Duomo is a short walk from Santa Maria Novella railway station. On Easter Sunday, extra crowds are in the city; expect transport to be busy. The surrounding streets are closed to vehicles from early morning on the day of the ceremony.

For a longer stay around the event, see our Florence city guide and our 3 days in Florence itinerary. If you are visiting Italy in spring, our Italy in April guide covers what else is happening across the country.