Easter Weekend in Florence

The last time I was in Florence was over Easter and it was wonderful. On Easter morning, my friend and I went to the Duomo for the Scoppia della Carre ceremony (the Explosion of the Cart), which happens every Easter morning. Our landlady told us the best place to watch it was the square right between the Duomo and the Baptistery. You can watch as the procession comes towards the Duomo, then it waits outside the doors. The “cart” is an ornate structure – it was roundish, with a dome, and looked very old.

Right around 11 am, the priest saying Mass inside the cathedral releases a mechanical dove, which flies out into the square and ignites the fireworks attached to the cart. So for the next 15-20 minutes, fireworks go off, along with huge puffs of smoke and noisy explosions. It was quite the spectacle but loads of fun.

There will be lots of shops open and many sights as well. You can read more about the ceremony here: https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-events/explosion-of-the-cart-easter.html

And yes, the Duomo is open on Good Friday.

Thank you!