Easter in Tuscany: 7 traditional events not to be missed

Every Easter Sunday in Florence, in Piazza Duomo, the Explosion of the Cart - a very old popular tradition - is preceded by the flight of the colombina (little dove) which, after crossing the central nave of the Cathedral, sets off the fireworks display on the brindellone, that is the cart, so called by the Florentines.
The celebration of this feast has remained as it once was: the cart, which dates back to the 18th century, is pulled by picturesque decorated oxen, from Porta al Prato to the Cathedral’s parvis and is escorted by costumed people.

Over the centuries, the tradition of the explosion of the cart has also spread to villages near Florence: in Figline Valdarno, the loggias of Piazza Marsilio Ficino frame the flight of the colombina up to the cart, which in this case is in the form of Palazzo Pretorio, a 15th-century building embellished with a crenellated tower.
The explosion of the cart is preceded by the historical procession and followed by the performance of the flag-wavers.

On the evening of Good Friday, in Grassina, more than 500 people enact the life and passion of Christ.
This evocative folk tradition, which dates back to the first decades of the 17th century, takes place in two moments: the historical procession through the streets of the town - in which the people participate in period costume - and the depiction of scenes from the life and passion of Jesus on Calvary, interpreted by about 100 extras.
Soldiers and centurions, Roman women, thieves and majestic horses frame the swaying and suffering Christ during the 90-minute journey of the Way of the Cross.
The arrival in the vicinity of Calvary is the prelude to the fusion of the two moments: the whole landscape serves as a natural stage for this performance, which over the years has become a real event also appreciated by many tourists.

The Procession of the Paniere takes place on Easter Monday in Santa Maria a Monte: the event reenacts the transfer of the body of Blessed Diana - the patron saint of the town - and culminates with the Procession to the Collegiate Church.
Each district offers the Blessed a basket of flowers, traditionally carried on the head by a lady accompanied by a horseman.
The flower baskets are also the origin of one of the most celebrated miracles attributed to the Saint: the transformation of bread, which Diana as a girl wore in her apron, into "roses and flowers" to avoid being discovered by her father in his charity toward the poor.

In Casole d'Elsa, an event that revives the Historical Procession dating back to the 1930s is held on Good Friday.
In the past, the parade of symbols of the Passion of Christ accompanied the statue of the Dead Christ already laid, with the wounds of the Crucifixion, to the Pievalle Chapel where it was approached by the statue of the Madonna Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows), also carried in procession.
This is still how the event takes place today, but it is enriched by the costumes and the involvement of the population, which make the procession an intimate but at the same time spectacular moment.

One of the oldest processions in Tuscany is held in Radicofani: on the evening of Maundy Thursday, a symbolic representation of the Last Supper takes place in the church of San Pietro, with people representing Jesus' apostles. This is followed by the dark procession: the Scalzi (the Discalced), hooded, carry the cross followed by the apostles and walk through the streets of the town.
On the afternoon of Good Friday, the three-hour agony of Jesus begins in the church of Sant’Agata, among meditations, songs and readings.
After Mass, the Easter procession follows, ending in front of the illuminated Calvary: a very impressive spectacle accompanied by choral singing.

In Porto Santo Stefano, on Easter Sunday, a long procession travels through the streets of the town at first light of sunrise and culminates in the ancient rite of the blessing of the sea: the statue of the risen Christ is shown into the harbor and raised three times, while fishermen respond to the blessing by sounding the alarms of the moored boats.