5 Experiences and tours to do in Florence on easter holidays
Hello Dear Explorers!
Easter is approaching and with it also the days get warmer and loger and the question arises spontaneously?
What to do in Florence on Easter holidays?
In this article I will list 5 interesting experiences to do to spend a beautiful Easter weekend in Florence and surroundings
1) Florence Gardens Tour
Spring has arrived and soon the days will warm up and get longer and longer. This is the best time to enjoy nature and take a guided tour of the gardens of Florence.
Many of you already know the Boboli Gardens, the splendid green lung of Florence which is located on the hill behind Pitti Palace and which was used as a private park of the Medici family.
The garden is very large, decorated with fountains, ancient statues and caves and it’s the perfect place to get away from the chaos of the historic center and above all relax.
But it is not the only garden in Florence! There are other garden just as beautiful, if not more, as this one that you absolutely cannot miss; first of all the Bardini Garden which in April is at its best.
It is a historic Florentine garden in the Oltrarno area that combines various architectural and artistic styles and resembles a small enchanted and magical world, which is really worth discovering.
In April, normally in the second half of the month, wisteria blooms, the symbolic flower of this garden which, colored with lilac and violet, gives us a breathtaking spectacle.
This year Easter falls on April 17th and could therefore be the perfect time to participate in a guided tour of the Bardini Garden to admire its famous wisteria tunnel.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the Boboli Gardens and the Bardini Gardens with the same ticket, combining two of the most beautiful gardens in Florence in a single visit.
2) The Donatello exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi and Bargello Museum
From March 19th to July 31st 2022 Palazzo Strozzi and the Bargello Museum host an incredible exhibition dedicated to Donatello, one of the most influential and innovative artists of the Renaissance.
Thanks to the collaboration with the Staatliche Museen in Berlin and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London you will have the opportunity to admire the works of Donatello and other artists such as Raphael, Brunelleschi, Masaccio and Michelangelo who have been enormously influenced by him.
The exhibition starts from Palazzo Strozzi and continues in the rooms of the Bargello Museum, which already houses the highest number of statues made by Donatello in Florence, and it’s an unmissable visit for those who love Renaissance art and want to discover the life and techniques of this eclectic and unconventional artist.
The guided tour of the Bargello Museum is also a must for those who have already visited the most famous museums such as the Accademia Gallery or the Uffizi Gallery and are interested in less traveled routes.
3) Experiences in Chianti
Spring is the best time to also visit the Florentine countryside and the Chianti area, which in this period shows us an incredible landscape.
You can choose to take a horseback ride through the vineyards and olive groves, to participate in a guided tour of Tuscany best medieval towns and also to treat yourself to a delicious food and wine tour in a farm or a villa / castle in Tuscany to enjoy the delicacies of our local cuisine: Chianti wine, extra virgin olive oil, game meat and much more.
A day dedicated to nature and good food, perfect for both adults and children.
4) Lo scoppio del Carro ( The Explosion of the Cart)
If you are in Florence on Easter Sunday you cannot miss one of the oldest and most curious Easter traditions of the city: the explosion of the cart.
The Scoppio del Carro is a tradition born about 350 years ago: a cart equipped with fireworks, also called the “Brindellone”, is pulled by two oxen around the streets of Florence and accompanied in procession by percussionists and flag-wavers wearing historical clothes, up to Piazza del Duomo in front of the entrance to the Cathedral.
After the mass, the priest lights a dove-shaped rocket, called Colombina because it symbolizes the Holy Spirit which, starting from the altar of the Cathedral and going through the entire nave of the Church, will then hit the cart placed right in front of the portal of the church entrance, causing the explosion of all the fireworks it contains.
Florentines love to assist this event since it represents a symbol of good luck and wealth for the whole city and if you are in Florence that day it will be an unforgettable experience for you too.
If you are intrigued by the local traditions, legends and mysteries, take a look at the Secret Florence guided tour, a fun and unusual tour perfect for those who want to discover a hidden side of the city
5) Easter Monday Picnic at Villa Demidoff
A few kilometers from Florence, reachable both by bus and by car, there is the splendid park of Villa Medicea di Pratolino, subsequently renamed Villa Demidoff after the acquisition of the property by a Russian family.
Almost nothing remains of the original villa but the park, although it has also been modified several times, is one of the most beautiful and largest gardens in Florence.
Admission is free and here you can not only admire splendid ancient works of art, such as the Colossus of the Apennines by Giambologna, the Chapel designed by Buontalenti and the various fountains and caves, but also enjoy nature, do hiking and lie down on the huge green lawn.
The Florentine custom of Easter Monday is to arrange a picnic right in the park of Villa Demidoff: arm yourself with schiacciata stuffed with prosciutto and cheeses, red wine and Colomba, the typical Easter cake so called because it is shaped like a dove (colomba in Italian means dove), and enjoy a day of relaxation surrounded by history, art and nature.
These are 5 of my favorite experiences and activities if you want to know what do in Florence on Easter holidays.
Did I make you want to visit my beautiful city?
Write me your questions or curiosities in the comments. I will read you!