Florence marked Easter Sunday 2025 with the traditional Scoppio del Carro – the “Explosion of the Cart” – and everything went perfectly as planned.
As always, the event attracted crowds of residents and visitors to Piazza del Duomo, where the centuries-old ritual took place in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. At the heart of the celebration is the symbolic flight of the colombina, a mechanical dove that travels on a wire from the altar inside the cathedral to the cart outside. This year, the colombina completed its route smoothly, igniting the cart and setting off a spectacular display of fireworks.
According to tradition, a successful flight is considered a good omen for the year to come – and this year’s flawless execution was greeted with cheers and applause from the crowd.
The event combines Florentine history, religion, and spectacle. Its origins date back over 350 years and are rooted in the Crusades and the return of Pazzino de’ Pazzi, a knight who brought back sacred fire from Jerusalem. Today, it remains one of the city’s most cherished Easter traditions.
A video of the moment when the colombina lights the cart has been shared on social media by user @markolinohikikomoricarpask8628 and captures the excitement and beauty of the celebration. You can watch it on this post.
As the fireworks filled the Florentine sky and the crowd looked on in awe, the message was clear: Easter in Florence continues to be a powerful mix of faith, community, and tradition.
Discover more from Florence Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.