Photo by bwohack

If you like a little bit of history, then you need to go to Florence during Easter. This is because a celebration of the first crusade takes place. It is called the Scoppio del Carro, which means “Explosion of the Cart.”

But first, it is important to understand why the first crusade is so incredibly important. First of all, it was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II. It was in response to an appeal by Byzantine Emperor Alexius I. But what was once a crusade to repel those occupying the Turkey area, it became a religious crusade. For three years, the battle continued on until another crusade broke out in 1101.

The Scoppio del Carro honors this first crusade by bringing out a cart that the Florentines call the “Brindellone” that is led by four white oxen. This occurs on Easter day. The cart is taken to the Piazza del Duomo, which is located between the Baptistry of St. John the Baptist and the Florence Cathedral. It is within the church that a rope is tied. The other end of that rope is tied to the cart. Near this extravagant cart is a white dove that that is the symbol of good luck for Florence.

When Easter mass ends, the cart is exploded. This is a symbolic event of something that occurred during the first crusade. The dove is then pushed toward the church.

When visiting Florence during this event, you will get an explanation of the significance of this event if you are not already aware. During this celebration, a lot is going on in Florence and it is all a lot of fun. You also get to enjoy great music, great food, and a lot of great people. And you also get to see the rest of Florence or have tuscany tours while you’re at it.