Scoppio del Carro or the Explosion of the Carriage, Piazza del Duomo, Florence. It is an ancient Florentine spectacle held every year on Easter Sunday. The oxen pull an 18th century gilded cart through the city until it reaches the Piazza del Duomo. Once it reaches the Piazza the oxen are unhooked from the cart and a wire is attached to it. The wire extends from the cart all the way to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. A dove-shaped rocket swoops down a wire from above the High Altar inside to ignite fireworks in the cart. This annual event has a long standing tradition that dates back to the first Crusade in 1099.

History says that a Florentine nobleman by the name of Pazzino de Pazzi who was the first to climb the walls of Jerusalem carrying the red cross flag of the crusaders. For his courage Goffredo di Buglione, the commander of the crusade, rewarded Pazzino with stone splinters from the Holy Sepulchre. When he returned to Florence he donated stone splinters to the city.

Through the streets, folklore parade is held by hundreds of citizens dressed in the costumes of soldiers of the crusades.

Scoppio del Carro is a celebration of the Resurrection, and many Tuscans still believe that a successful firework display means a good harvest.