Now that Spring is finally upon us, the temptation to leave everything behind and just go out to enjoy the weather is sometimes overwhelming. Thankfully, the calendar comes around to help with Tuscany's favourite holiday of all times, Easter. While it is not as heartfelt as it used to be back in the day, it's still a great time to come out, celebrate and go around the region to find out interesting corners and historic celebrations. This is why, rather than delving deep into yet another little-known page of history, this week What's Up Tuscany will offer you a quick tour of this land to show you the quirkiest festivals that have been welcoming Easter for many centuries.

If you listen to the full episode, you'll learn everything there is to know about Tuscany's most famous Easter celebration, the very odd "Scoppio del carro" in Florence, where fireworks and an historic promenade have been the coronation of the Holy Week since the Middle Ages. if you like your Easter to be all about the reason for the season, you're only spoiled for choice, considering the wealth of processions and reenactments that are hosted throughout the region. Few are more complex and charming as the one in Castiglion Fiorentino, a week long festival that culminates in the so-called "flight of the redentor", that features a flying Jesus statue.

If you're into even quirkier celebrations, how about the "ruzzolata delle uova" in Mugello or the massive flower festival in San Casciano that has two churches fighting each other. Whatever you choose to do, just unplug for a bit and enjoy the company of your loved ones. There's no time like today: might as well enjoy it while you can.
Email: podcast@larno.it
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Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.seidifirenzese.it/2018/03/30/le-tradizioni-fiorentine-pasqua/
https://www.italybyevents.com/eventi/toscana/scoppio-del-carro-firenze/
http://www.frammentiditoscana.it/processioni-settimana-santa-arezzo-siena/
https://www.livornosera.it/eventi-livorno/usanze-pasquali-dalla-ruzzolata-delluovo-alla-gita-porta/
https://www.intoscana.it/it/articolo/pasqua-in-toscana-feste-tradizioni-e-rievocazioni-della-passione/
https://firenze.repubblica.it/cronaca/2014/04/18/news/pasqua_le_tradizioni_in_toscana-83957137/
https://www.nove.firenze.it/pasqua-una-tradizione-secolare-in-toscana.htm
https://www.firenzetoday.it/eventi/pasqua-2015-firenze-toscana.html
https://www.coopfirenze.it/informatori/notizie/ovunque-in-toscana
https://www.vignaiolidiscansano.it/la-pasqua-in-maremma/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - A Slave to Nothing (Instrumental)
WUFO - Hyde Park
Wayne John Bradley - Pick you up
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-a-slave-to-nothing-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/argofox/wufo-hyde-park
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/pick-you-up-slow-poprock-style-instrumental-creative-commons
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/