Research Catalog

Title

Notizie storiche sul carro del fuoco che ogni anno s'incendia sulla piazza del Duomo, la mattina del Sabato Santo in Firenze raccolte e illustrate [da Rodolfo Ciullini].

Author

Ciullini, Rodolfo.

Publication

Firenze, Bibliotheca Antiquaria Aldina, 1924.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Bibliotheca Antiquaria Aldina, publisher.
• Tipografia Stella, printer.

Description

pp. 18, v+. 5 plates (4 colored).

Summary

History and description by Rodolfo Ciullini, librarian and director of the library and archives of Florence, of the city's tradition of the "scoppio del carro," or setting fire to a gilded chariot or wagon that explodes in a spectacle of lights, sparks, and fireworks, an event that takes place on the morning of Holy Saturday in the Piazza del Duomo to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The tradition dates back nine centuries to the time of the Crusades, when a member of the Pazzi family, Pazzino de' Pazzi, returned home from Jerusalem carrying some stone chips taken from the Holy Sepulcher. These stones were used to light a holy fire which was then distributed to all residents of the city. Every year, the chariot, the "brindellone," is brought to the piazza in front of the church while inside the bishop lights a rocket in the shape of a dove known as "la Colombina." The rocket travels along a wire to hit the chariot outside in the piazza, exploding it in a shower of fireworks and sparks.

Subject

• Pazzi family
• Rites and ceremonies > Italy > Florence
• Holy Saturday > Italy > Florence
• Florence (Italy) > Social life and customs

Bibliography (note)

• "Bibliografia", pp.i-v.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

OCLC

• 235570745
• SCSB-13131350

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library