Scoppio del Carro

A Holy Saturday tradition in the heart of the Valdisieve

The Scoppio del Carro is one of the most anticipated and iconic events in Rufina, located in the heart of the Valdisieve, within the Metropolitan City of Florence, Tuscany. Every year, on the night of Holy Saturday, the local community gathers in Piazza Umberto I, in front of the Church of San Martino, to perform a ritual that blends faith, fireworks, and a strong sense of belonging. It is a free, open-air event that draws residents and visitors from across the entire valley.

The origins: from the Berta to the Scoppio del Carro

The tradition dates back to the 1930s, when some citizens of Rufina created a rudimentary device called the Berta, made with small firecrackers salvaged from wine bottle caps in an area historically tied to viticulture. Interrupted during the difficult years of the Second World War, the festival was officially revived in the post-war period, evolving into the actual Scoppio del Carro, with fireworks placed on a two-wheeled cart positioned in front of the church.

The ritual of the dove

The most anticipated moment is the flight of the colombina (dove): a dove-shaped rocket that, at the singing of the Gloria, travels along a wire stretched from the bell tower of the Church of San Martino to the cart, lighting the fuse that triggers the pyrotechnic show. As the square lights up with the colors of the fireworks, tradition holds that it is a good omen for the community and the upcoming agricultural year.

The Historical Wine and Countryside Procession

The evening is enriched by the Historical Wine and Countryside Procession of Rufina, which parades through the streets adjacent to Piazza Umberto I before reaching the Church of San Martino. Flag-wavers, costumed performers, and historical groups evoke the deep bond between Rufina and its territory, which for centuries has been dedicated to the production of Chianti Rufina wine, one of the oldest and most prestigious denominations in Tuscany.

An event for the whole community

The Scoppio del Carro is organized by the Scoppio del Carro Association together with the Historical Wine and Countryside Procession, the Parish of San Martino, and with the patronage of the Municipality of Rufina. It is an intergenerational festival, suitable for families, that merges the religious dimension of Easter with the conviviality of Tuscan popular traditions. In recent years, the event has been accompanied by cultural initiatives, such as photographic exhibitions dedicated to the history of the dove and the Scoppio, held at the Municipal Library.