WHAT'S ON IN APRIL

Tuscany -Florence

Easter – Scoppio del caro (Explosion of the cart)

Every Easter morning a procession is held in the city of Florence. Starting at the church of the SS Apostoli, an elaborate cart, which is called the Brindellone, is pulled by oxen decorated with flowers. The oxen pull the cart through the city until it reaches the Piazza del Duomo.

The dove is sent on its way to ignite the cart setting off a spectacular explosion. According to popular legend if all goes well and the cart is exploded it will mean a very prosperous year for the Florentines.

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. On the wire in the Cathedral is a rocket that has the appearance of a white dove, which is referred to as the colombina.

People gather around the Piazza del Duomo to witness this explosion, which takes place at noon. This annual event has a long standing tradition that dates back to the first Crusade in 1099.

Basilica di San Vitale

Piedmont – Turin

Festa della Primavera (Spring Celebration)

In the Giardino Medievale. Plant and flower lovers will be able to enjoy guided tours and teaching initiatives to discover botanical culture in the historical Giardino della Rocca when it reopens in April. There is a rich calendar of events for the four seasons with the gardens staying open until the last week in October.

Mole Antonelliana - Torino

Misteri - Trapani

Sicily

Holy Week Observances, island-wide. Processions and age-old ceremonies some dating back to pagan days, some even from the Middle Ages are staged in most cities and towns.

Palermo and Catania are particularly colourful along the coast. Trapani’s procession of the Misteri is the island’s most famous event at this time but the best of all is staged on the island of Caltagirone, a 2 hr drive south-west of Catania.

Messina Marathon