Two great Florentine traditions play out at the Duomo each year — the Scoppio del Carro at Easter and the Festa di San Giovanni on 24 June. Here is what happens, and when.
The Duomo is a working cathedral as much as a monument, and a handful of dates each year turn Piazza del Duomo into the stage for centuries-old Florentine ritual. Two are worth planning around, and both are free to watch — though the square fills early.
The "Explosion of the Cart" is Florence's great Easter tradition, and it happens right between the cathedral and the Baptistery. On Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026, a towering antique cart called the Brindellone is drawn to Piazza del Duomo by white oxen in a costumed procession from around 10:00 am. During the late-morning Mass, a dove-shaped rocket — the colombina — is sent along a wire from the high altar to ignite the cart, setting off some twenty minutes of fireworks at about 11:00 am. Tradition holds that a clean run means a good harvest for the year ahead. Arrive by 9:30 am for any view of the square.
Florence celebrates its patron saint, John the Baptist — to whom the Baptistery is dedicated — every year on 24 June. The day brings a historical parade, religious ceremonies at the Baptistery and cathedral, the final of the Calcio Storico Fiorentino in Piazza Santa Croce, and, after dark, the famous fochi di San Giovanni, a fireworks display over the Arno usually beginning around 10:00 pm. It is a public holiday in the city, so expect shops and some monuments to keep reduced hours.
As an active place of worship, the cathedral holds Mass daily, and it closes to sightseers during services — which is why tourist visits are not possible on Sundays. Typical weekday Mass times are 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 am and 6:00 pm, with additional services and Vespers on Sundays. If you wish to attend a service you are welcome, but plan tourist visits around these times.
Good to know. Both festivals are free and draw large crowds, and the cathedral may close to visitors around major services and events. If your tour date falls on Easter Sunday or 24 June, check with your operator, as monument hours and access can change for the day.
Planning your visit around one of these dates? See the visiting guide for hours and passes, or compare guided Florence Duomo tours for the days around the festivals.
Book a guided tour with skip-the-line entry for the busy days — the square is at its most crowded around Easter and San Giovanni.
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