What to Do in Florence for Easter 2026: Travel Tips

Easter in Florence is one of those experiences that stays with you. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular to Tuscany, spending Pasqua in this city means stepping into a living calendar of rituals that have been repeated — almost unchanged — for centuries. With Easter Sunday falling on April 5, 2026, and the Monday holiday (Pasquetta) on April 6, there’s a long weekend ahead packed with tradition, spring atmosphere, and plenty to discover.

Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of it.

The Scoppio del Carro: Florence’s Most Spectacular Easter Tradition

If you only do one thing in Florence for Easter, make it this. On Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, the city bursts into celebration — quite literally — with the legendary Scoppio del Carro, or Explosion of the Cart. This folk tradition dates back over 500 years and is the undisputed highlight of Easter morning.

Starting around 10am, an elaborate wagon — built in 1622 and standing two to three stories high — is pulled by a pair of white oxen decorated with garlands through the streets of Florence, making its way to the square between the Baptistery and the Cathedral. The cart is accompanied by drummers, flag-throwers and figures dressed in Renaissance costume, turning the morning into something between a religious ceremony and a theatrical spectacle.

The most anticipated moment is the flight of the dove: a rocket shaped like a dove — the Colombina — travels along a wire from the Cathedral’s altar to the cart, triggering a spectacular fireworks display right in the heart of Piazza del Duomo at around 11am.

According to tradition, if the complex ritual proceeds smoothly and all of the fireworks go off, good luck is ensured for the city and its citizens for the whole year. Florentines take this seriously — and the atmosphere in the square when it all goes well is electric.

Practical tip: arrive early — by 9 to 9:30am — to find a spot with a view. The piazza gets extremely crowded with families, tourists, and locals who never tire of this tradition. Entry is free.

Holy Week in Florence: What Happens Before Easter Sunday

The Easter weekend doesn’t begin on Sunday. The days leading up to it each have their own character.

On Holy Thursday (April 2, 2026), many Florentines observe the old custom of visiting multiple churches in the evening to admire the beautifully decorated altars of repose, in a tradition known as the giro dei sepolcri. That same day, the sweet scent of pan di ramerino — a fragrant rosemary and raisin bun — wafts from bakeries all over the city. Historically, Florentine bakers would prepare these loaves only on Holy Thursday and have them blessed before selling them. It’s one of those hyper-local details that makes Florence so rewarding to visit during this period.

On Good Friday, April 3, one of the most remarkable events takes place just outside the city in Grassina (municipality of Bagno a Ripoli): the Historical Reenactment of the Passion of Christ, staged outdoors with the enormous participation of local townspeople both as performers and behind the scenes. It’s about 15 minutes from Florence and absolutely worth the trip if you want to experience a more intimate, community-rooted tradition.

Pasquetta: How Italians Spend Easter Monday

Easter Monday is a national holiday in Italy, and the traditional Italian approach is summed up by a saying: “Christmas with your family, Easter with whoever you want.” It’s a day for friends, outdoor lunches, and escaping the city.

Florence marks the occasion with a giant free picnic at the Ippodromo del Visarno on April 6 — billed as “the biggest picnic in Italy” — featuring a Car Bazar, street food, music, sport and much more. It’s relaxed, lively, and very Florentine in the best way.

If you’d rather explore further afield, a day trip toward the Chianti wine region, the Versilia coast, or the Etruscan coast are all popular options. Spring in Tuscany is genuinely beautiful at this time of year, and renting a car for the day opens up a completely different side of the region.

Traditional Easter Food in Florence: What to Eat

Easter in Tuscany comes with its own edible traditions and amazing Florentine Easter food. Agnello (lamb) roasted with herbs is a staple of family lunches, alongside colomba pasquale (the dove-shaped cake) and chocolate eggs as sweet symbols of the season. For something more distinctly Florentine, look out for schiacciata alla fiorentina — a light, orange-scented flatbread — and fresh pecorino paired with local honey.

The quaresimali — small cocoa biscuits shaped like letters of the alphabet — are another local Easter sweet, mostly found only in Florence and its surroundings and especially popular with children. Keep an eye out for them in pasticcerie around the city.

Is Florence Worth Visiting at Easter? A Few Things to Know

The short answer is yes — but go in with clear expectations. Florence at Easter is busy. The Scoppio del Carro draws enormous crowds to Piazza del Duomo, and the city center is at peak tourism for the weekend. That said, the atmosphere is genuinely festive and the weather in early April is typically mild and pleasant, making it ideal for walking.

Easter offers a handful of days to plan a small vacation, with the promise of warm weather, longer hours of sunlight, and the desire to spend time outdoors. If you book accommodation and restaurant tables in advance, manage your time around the big Sunday morning event, and use Pasquetta to breathe out with a picnic or a countryside excursion, you’ll have a trip that’s hard to top.

Florence at Easter isn’t just tourism — it’s the city at its most alive.

The Best Way to Experience Florence at Easter 2026

Florence at Easter rewards those who come prepared. The city is beautiful but not small, and the Easter weekend compresses a lot of activity into a few days — so having a plan makes all the difference between rushing from one thing to the next and actually soaking it all in.

If you’re visiting for the first time, or even if you’ve been before, the single best investment you can make is joining a guided tour. Walking through Florence with someone who knows its history, hidden corners, and the stories behind what you’re seeing completely transforms the experience. During Easter weekend especially, when the city layers centuries of religious tradition over its already dense artistic heritage, context is everything.

Inside Out Italy offers expertly curated Florence tours that go well beyond the standard itinerary — think Renaissance art explained the way it deserves to be, neighbourhood walks that take you off the beaten path, and local knowledge you simply won’t find in a guidebook. Whether you want a deep dive into the Uffizi, a walk through the Oltrarno, or a full-day experience built around the Easter festivities, their team knows how to make Florence feel personal.

Book your Florence Easter tour with Inside Out Italy and make sure your 2026 trip is one you’ll actually remember.

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What to Do in Florence for Easter 2026: Events, Traditions and Travel Tips