Cheap Hotels in Florence - News

Celebrate with a Bang

Those looking for a somewhat unusual way to mark Easter will find one of the most spectacular traditions in the beautiful and historic city of Florence.

Here, on Easter Sunday, the annual Scoppio del Carro (explosion of the cart) takes place, with the date falling on April 8th this year.

The tradition goes back to the middle ages, based on the story that a brave crusader, Pazzino de Pazzi, was rewarded for scaling the walls of Jerusalem in 1099 with stones from the holy sepulchre.

In late morning, the cart is towed to the the Piazza del Duomo, trailing a wire all the way back to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, where a fuse is lit with sparks from Pazzi's stones and ignites a rocket shaped like a dove, which hurtles along the wire to the carriage, blowing it to smithereens.

A successfully destroyed cart is said to foretell a good year for Florentines.

Visitors staying in cheap hotels Florence can also enjoy lots of less explosive treats as they explore the fine renaissance architecture and art of the city.

This article is provided by Hotels Hotels Hotels suppliers of cheap hotels in Florence

Updated: Sat, 06 Jan 2007 00:00:00

Related Links:
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