Piggybacking on another post I just read, we will be in Florence on Easter Sunday 2017. Can anyone tell me more about the Scoppio del Carro? Do we need to attend mass at the Duomo that day in order to get a good view? It sounds pretty cool!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16235 posts
No. No need to attend the mass inside the Duomo. The cart is placed in front of the main door between the Duomo (cathedral) and the Baptistery.
They set up temporary stands if you want to pay. Another place to see it is by standing on via Calzaiuoli, which is slightly going uphill. However if you are a short person, you might have a hard time seeing it, because lots of people might be standing in front of you.
Another place to see it, is from inside the Duomo (in case you attend the mass). It is important to be as close as possible to the middle aisle. From that place you can see the dove going back and forth from the altar to the cart on the wire. You will be able to see the cart outside through the door, but the view is partially obstructed because the door is not as big as the cart. Also lots of people inside the Duomo will try to do the same.
I've seen it several time from various locations, but I think the best view is from the outside, either the stands (for a fee) or from the beginning of Via Calzaiuoli. It's crowded though, and tall people get the best view.
Of course if you get there early enough, you might get the best view of all, by being in front of the crowd.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1773 posts
The cart is stored in a strange multi storey building close to the Villa Medici hotel. The cart has wheels and it is towed to Duomo by huge oxen with horns painted in gold along Borgo Ognissanti and via della Vigna nuova. These oxen are so big to be positively impressive. Cart wheels are a bit irregular, so the cart lightly swings while riding, that earned it the nickname "brindellone" (Florentine dialect for a tall but clumsy boy). While the big feast is at Duomo, even looking the car slowly making its way is entertaining.