Scoppio del Carro

Every years on Easter Sunday, the Florentines celebrate the “Scoppio del carro”, dedicated to the first soldier, called Pazzino de’Pazzi, who climbed the Jerusalem walls during the first crusade.

For his bravery his commander gave him a piece of stone from the Holy Sepulchre.

After his return to Florence, he used the stone to start a “holy fire” during the Holy Week.

The fire was carried throughout in the city and from this moment it was used as a religious symbol.

Around 1300 the florentines began to buid a cart, highly decorated, for trasporting the flame.

In this days the florentines dressed traditional costumes and lead the cart in the square.

Then a colombina holding an olive branch, after the explosion of the cart, had to cross the square.

This is an happy moment while the people can enjoy with firecracker.

A perfect explosion corrispond to a positive years.

For more info visit www.comune.fi.it

Roberto Santoni, Leonardo Taiti