Easter Week in Florence, 2026

Easter is one of the most vibrant times in Florence, with tourists and locals alike gathering in the spring sunshine to celebrate centuries-old traditions and the city’s deep religious heritage. A wide range of events are planned for this Easter Week, from concerts to historical processions across the city.

Free Easter Concert

Starting off the Easter programme is the Holy Week Concert on March 30 at 8.30 pm, in the impressive venue of the Basilica of Santa Trinita. Conducted by David Benetti and Edoardo Rosadini, the evening is dedicated to the music of Igor Stravinsky, the great 20th-century Russo-American composer. The concert begins with three musical prayers, including a performance of the Mass, reflecting the sacred themes at the heart of Holy Week. The concert concludes with The Symphony of Psalms, Stravinsky’s masterpiece. The piece sets biblical psalms 39, 40, and 150 into music, moving through moments of prayer, joy and praise. Stravinsky’s unusual orchestration in this piece omits violins, violas and clarinets, creating a distinctive and powerful sound to praise Christ.

ORT Easter Concert

The Orchestra della Toscana’s (ORT) yearly Easter Concert will take place on the April 2 at Teatro Verdi at 9 pm. The programme includes the masterful work of Mozart and Beethoven, both conducted by Ming Gyo Song. Opening the concert is Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.5, performed by Simon Zhu, a German violinist, winner of the prestigious Paganini Competition in 2023. This piece is one of Mozart’s most theatrical concertos, full of brilliant outbursts that captivate the listener. It is texturally interesting, with the finale drawing inspiration from Ottoman bands and their music. Beethoven’s Symphony no. 8 with its refined and precise classicism follows the concerto. The entire orchestra is engaged in this symphony, often described as Beethoven’s most playful and witty piece. Combined with the beautiful and relaxing melodies, the rhythmic energy and mischievous surprises add an ironic dimension, in which Beethoven seems to gently mock the classic tradition. These playful pieces capture the renewed energy of the spring season.

Tickets for the ORT’s Easter Concert can be booked online at ticketone.it, and also at the Teatro Verdi box office. Prices range from €24 full price to €10 discounted for under 30s.

Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart): April 5

Each year on the morning of  Easter Sunday, in front of the Duomo, the spectacular Florentine tradition of Scoppio del Carro takes place.

A cart called the ‘brindellone’ is escorted by 150 armed men, musicians and flag-wavers dressed up in traditional clothes as part of the historical procession. They begin in Piazzale del Prato, pulled by two pairs of oxen dressed up with garlands, eventually arriving at Piazza del Duomo at 9.30 am where the crowd awaits them. The grand finale of the event is at 11 am at the end of Easter mass. The crowd begins to sing ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo’, whilst the Archbishop releases a mechanical dove which flies along a wire to ignite the cart fireworks and firecrackers. If the dove misses, it is seen as an omen of a bad harvest and bad fortune for the rest of the year.

The term ‘Brindellone’ itself is also rooted in the history and tradition of Florence. It belongs to the Florentine repertoire of slang and means a tall, slouching, and awkward person. The word came to be linked with carts used for public ceremonies after its use during the festival of Saint John the Baptist. On May 24, a hay cart would set out from the Mint’s tower and tour the city, pulling a man dressed in rags to represent the saint, known as a ‘brindellone’. Since then, the term has been used for all ceremonial carts in Florentine festivals.

This Florentine celebration dates back to the time of the Crusades around the 12th century.  According to the legend, it was the Florentine nobleman Pazzino de’ Pazzi, who brought back three flakes of flint stone from the Holy Sepulchre, lighting them and symbolically distributing the flame to the crowd. This tradition is attributed to the Pazzi family, taking its current form with the cart, oxen and the procession in the 17th century.

Holy Week Church Services in English

Museums

On Easter Sunday, all state-run museums will offer free admission: the Uffizi Gallery (8:15 am – 6:30 pm); Palazzo Pitti complex  (8:15 am – 6:50 pm); Boboli Gardens (8:15 am – 6:30 pm); Galleria dell’Accademia (8:15  am – 6:50 pm); Bargello Museum (8:15 am – 6:50 pm); and the National Archaeological  Museum of Florence (8:30 am – 2 pm).  

On Easter Monday, April 6, the Galleria dell’Accademia, the Medici Chapels and the Orsanmichele complex will be exceptionally open to the public from 8.15 am to 6.50 pm in addition to the Villa Bardini garden between 10 am and 7:30 pm, which hosts the National Geographic photo display “Oceans”, that can be visited during the same hours.

Easter Treats

Andrea Bianchini at the Mercato Centrale, open seven days a week, is the place to go for a chocolate Easter egg, large or small.