📜 A tradition born from a legend

According to tradition, during the capture of Jerusalem, the brave Florentine knight Pazzino de' Pazzi was the first to climb the city walls. As a sign of gratitude, he received a gift of three fragments of the Holy Sepulchre, today preserved in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Florence.

From those relics was born the ritual of the holy fire, lit with sparks obtained by rubbing the splinters and carried in procession on Holy Saturday. Over time, the rite has transformed into a real collective celebration, with the introduction of the cart and the use of spectacular fireworks.

🚩 The Brindellone and the Historical Procession

The undisputed protagonist is the Fire Chariot, known by all as Brindellone: an imposing mobile tower about 9 meters high, decorated with Florentine coats of arms and symbols, which is kept during the year in a “custom” warehouse in Via Il Prato.

On Easter morning, the cart leaves the depot pulled by oxen adorned with ribbons and accompanied by the picturesque Historical Procession of the Florentine Republic. The procession passes through the center to Piazza San Giovanni, where it is greeted by a cheering crowd.

At the same time, a procession of religious and civil authorities, led by the gonfalon of Florence and the flag of the Pazzi family, sets off from the Church of the Holy Apostles and also reaches the Cathedral.

🕊️ The Flight of the Dove

At 11 o'clock sharp, during Easter Mass, a small mechanical dove – called a “colombina” – leaves the main altar of the Cathedral and darts along a wire until it reaches the Brindellone, positioned in front of the church.

Upon contact with the dove, the float lights up in a blaze of fireworks, sparks and colored smoke. At the top, a luminous pinwheel explodes amidst the applause of the crowd. If the dove's flight proceeds smoothly and returns correctly, the sign is a good omen for the harvest and for the coming year.

⚽ Historic football: let's go!

The Scoppio del Carro also marks the beginning of another great Florentine tradition: the Calcio Storico. Before the fireworks display, the teams are drawn to determine the pairings for the two semi-finals of the famous tournament played in June.