The Cart Explosion Ceremony (Scoppio del carro) is a colorful folk show that takes place in Florence on Catholic Day Easter.

This tradition is very old, it dates back to the times of the Crusades. Then, in the 12th century, when the Florentine troops returned home from the next Crusade, they brought with them the sacred fire from Jerusalem. The ceremony of lighting the fire in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem so amazed the Florentines that they began to carry out a similar procedure and at home.

The explosion of the cart is preceded by a carnival

Since then, on Easter, clergy from the Church of the Holy Apostles use Jerusalem stones to make fire from a spark. After this, the fire is loaded onto a cart called “Brindalone” drawn by white bulls and then the solemn procession moves towards the main cathedral of the city Santa Maria del Fiore .

A carriage near the Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore) turns into a huge fireworks display.

Near the cathedral, a ceremonial lighting of the cart takes place (previously this was done by a dove, now by pyrotechnics). As a result, the cart turns into a huge fireworks display.

At the very end, the cart turns into a grandiose fireworks display