Easter in Florence: From Exploding Carts to Traditional Food

Throughout Europe, Easter is one of the most celebrated holidays of the year. As a historic city, Florence has many long-standing traditions to welcome spring and renewal. Discover the city’s culture through its many opportunities during Easter week.

Scoppio del Carro

Meaning “Explosion of the Cart”, this Florentine tradition lives up to its name. An antique, elaborate wagon is pulled through the streets of Florence by oxen to the city’s cathedral, known as the Duomo. The cart, or “Brindellone”, is accompanied by a historical parade with drummers, flag-wavers, and people dressed in Renaissance costumes.

The 30-foot cart is covered in firecrackers and fireworks, which are then set off by a mechanical dove that flies along a cable from the cathedral during Easter Mass. If the dove has a smooth flight to the cart, good fortune and a prosperous year are ensured.

This tradition dates back over 900 years. According to legend, the Florentine nobleman Pazzino de’Pazzi achieved success during the First Crusade in 1099 and was rewarded with three flints from the Holy Sepulchre. When he returned to Florence, these sacred flints were used to light the city’s Easter candle. Over the centuries, the tradition has evolved into the lighting of an antique cart.

Picnic in Boboli Gardens

Not only is Easter Sunday widely celebrated, but Easter Monday is also a day of relaxation in Italy. As a national holiday, everyone has the day off from work and school to enjoy. To welcome spring, spend the day in Boboli Gardens.

This historic park was originally designed for the Medici and is known as one of the first Italian gardens, inspiring many European courts. To experience Florence’s natural beauty, grab a sandwich and sit in the city’s open-air museum.

Church Services

With its many churches, Florence offers numerous services and opportunities to celebrate this religious holiday. Although the Basilica of Santa Croce doesn’t offer tours on Easter Sunday, the church hosts events and services throughout Holy Week. Discover its rich history, famous tombs, and beautiful square lined with leather shops and food spots.

While many local churches in Florence hold their own Easter services and processions, the most popular are the several masses held at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore throughout the week. Located in the city center, Florence’s cathedral is known for its extraordinary beauty and detailed frescoes.

Traditional Easter Menu in Florence

In true Florentine style, the city’s celebrations are accompanied by traditional holiday food. Florentines eat their Easter meals at lunch, beginning with Tuscan crostini as an appetizer. These toasted, unsalted slices of Tuscan bread are topped with a chicken liver cream and seasoning. For the main course, these appetizers are followed by roasted lamb with potatoes. Florence is known for its high-quality lamb, with the city’s favorite street food being a lamb sandwich. To finish the meal, enjoy Colomba pasquale. This Easter dessert is a sweet bread shaped like a dove to symbolize resurrection. Its fluffy, airy texture is topped with glaze, sugar, and almonds, giving it a rich, aromatic flavor.

To fully experience the tradition, bake a loaf of Colomba Pasquale to share with our recipe.

1. The night before making the bread, mix 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of water, and 1/8 teaspoon instant yeast. Cover the bowl and leave it at room temperature for 15 hours or so.
2. Mix in 2 1/4 cups of flour, 1 1/4 teaspoons of table salt, 1 teaspoon instant yeast, 1/3 cup of granulated sugar, 4 tablespoons of butter, 2 large eggs, and 1/8 teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia. Knead for about 12 minutes.
3. Knead in a grated orange rind and 1 cup of dried fruit.
4. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise for 2 hours until it becomes puffy.
5. Divide the dough into two pieces, with one slightly larger than the other. Shape them into logs.
6. Place the shorter log on top of the longer one to make the dove shape
7. Cover the loaf with lightly greased plastic wrap and set aside for about 1 to 2 hours
8. Preheat oven to 375 °F (190.5 °C)
9. Mix 1 large egg white, 3 tablespoons of ground almonds, and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Gently paint this glaze over the loaf and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sliced almonds with 5 to 6 teaspoons of coarse sparkling sugar.
10. Bake the loaf for 15 minutes
11. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool.

For more experiences in Florence, discover our excursions throughout the city. Our expert guides and audio guide app share the history, legends, and traditions of Florence, providing an in-depth look into the city’s culture.