The Colombina

The Colombina, or “bursting of the cart” is a curious popular event that takes place on Easter Sunday in Florence. The protagonist of the show is the “brindellone“, a tower positioned on a cart that is pulled by a pair of oxen through the streets of the historic center. The arrival point of the parade is Piazza del Duomo, where the float is placed between the baptistery and the cathedral. During the religious ceremony in the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the archbishop lights a dove-shaped rocket from the altar of the cathedral which is slid along a rope until it reaches the cart outside the church, which explodes. Subsequently, the rocket takes the reverse route, returning to the main altar.
The ancient festival has always attracted a large number of spectators, also thanks to tradition, which sees the success of this event as a good omen for times to come.

Cover photo © Feel Florence