Florence restores the historic door of the Brindellone depot

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 Editorial Staff Life

After a restoration that has returned it to its original appearance, one of Florence’s most distinctive historic doors will be officially reopened on Sunday January 18, 2026. The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the entrance to the depot that houses the Brindellone, in Via il Prato 48.

*The Brindellone is a central element of the Scoppio del Carro, Florence’s centuries-old Easter tradition*

The building is where the Brindellone — also known as the “Carro di Fuoco” — is kept for most of the year. The cart is a central element of the Scoppio del Carro, Florence’s centuries-old Easter tradition. Every Easter Sunday, the cart leaves the depot and is pulled through the city to Florence Cathedral, where the symbolic “flight of the Colombina” takes place during the morning Mass.

The restored door is 11 metres high and is described by the city as the tallest door in Europe still in regular use for a non-industrial, non-religious building. Its size is necessary to allow the Brindellone, decorated and fully assembled, to be moved in and out of the depot each year.

*The restored door is considered the tallest in Europe still in regular use for a non-industrial, non-religious building*

Guided visits in the afternoon

Following the inauguration, the depot and the restored entrance will be open to the public from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Guided tours are scheduled every hour, with free admission. During the visits, guides will explain the structure of the Brindellone, its internal mechanisms, and its role in the Easter ceremony.

Visits can also be arranged in English, French and Spanish by booking in advance via email at [email protected].

The event will also feature the Corteo della Repubblica Fiorentina and the city’s flag throwers, adding a historical reenactment element to the day.

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