Easter Scoppio del Carro (explosion of the Cart) with a side of Bologna

I got up early as I wanted to be sure I got a good spot at the Duomo for the Scoppio del Carro (explosion of the Cart). On Easter Sunday it is a folk tradition in the City of Florence to have a cart packed with fireworks. The origins began during the First Crusade when Europeans laid siege to Jerusalem to claim Palestine for Christianity. Pazzino de Pazzi of a prominent family was the first man to scale the walls for his bravery he was given three flints from the church of the Holy Sepulchre that he took back to Tuscany. The antique cart has been in use for over 500 years leaves Porta al Prato and arrives at the Piazza del Duomo hauled by a team of white oxen decorated in flowers.   150 soldiers and musicians and people in 15th century dress escort the cart.  

I was there by 9 am and found a front row spot ready for the parade to start. As it turns out the parade actually started 15 minutes after I arrived. It was a very good parade and then the wait of almost 90 mins for the explosion of the cart people arrived and pushed their way to the front so the view was not as good as it was for the parade but at least I was there and able to be a part of it all.  

Afterwards I worked my way back to the hotel and I grabbed a sandwich and sat and ate it and rested until it was time to catch the train to Bologna.  I arrived in Bologna had a bit of trouble finding my hotel even though it was close to the train station I had trouble finding just where it. I checked in and the headed off to explore. I was very close to the main area of town and it did not take me too long to get there. It was quite nice to walk the long street full of shops and churches.   I passed quite a few but the one that really stood out was Basilica di San Petronio. There was an admission if you wanted to take photos but it was well worth, quite beautiful inside. I then walked back and started to feel a bit hungry and I entered a little place I had seen earlier and had a pita with a coke for only 3.50 euro. Then headed back to town and got a little bit lost again but finally made my room. 

Basilica di San Petronio

this was soooooo good