20 August 2026
Florence
One of the most interesting tourist and cultural aspects of Florence is its ability to continually amaze visitors with exhibitions, historical reenactments, and folkloric events that have their roots in centuries past but magically manage to remain contemporary, accessible, and extremely popular even today.
This is possible thanks, above all, to the citizens' love for their territory: a solid bond, a sense of belonging and identity that goes far beyond the famous red lily or a postcard of the Ponte Vecchio.
Being Florentine means living, embodying, and feeling the soul of the city throughout the year, taking part in the many festivals, fairs, and commemorations that fill the calendar.
Would you like to know about a truly exciting one? Today, right here in this article, we will tell you all about it. It is the famous... Carro Matto.
When tradition and memory continue to travel in unison
The Carro Matto is one of the most fascinating and unique traditions of the city of Florence.
Dating back to the 14th century, it continues to be celebrated today with an event usually held on the last weekend of September. This festival has its roots in a period of great turmoil for the city and its economy, when trade and agricultural production, particularly wine, played a crucial role in the daily life of its inhabitants.
The tradition of the Carro Matto is linked to the grape harvest, but above all to the celebration of Rufina, one of the most famous wine-producing areas in the Florence region. The Carro Matto, a cart decorated with flowers and fruit, starts from there, loaded with grapes and typical products of the Tuscan countryside, and arrives in the streets and squares of Florence's historic center, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.
Not just wine but...
The Carro Matto, which travels through the streets of the city every year with a series of popular rituals, including dances, music, and performances reminiscent of medieval customs, initially had a strong religious and agricultural character, but over time it has also taken on the aspect of a civil celebration, becoming a moment of socialization and civic pride. People gather to admire the cart and take part in the celebrations, creating a real historical re-enactment.
Together with the cart, the historical procession of the Florentine Republic also joins the celebrations to reach the churchyard of Piazza Duomo and receive the customary blessing. There, the wine is offered to the religious authorities, while in Piazza della Signoria, after a special performance by flag-wavers and in front of a large audience, it is presented to the city's civil authorities.
The Carro Matto: an occasion not to be missed
If you are in town during the last days of the month, don't miss the opportunity to take part in a unique folkloric event, so full of colors, sounds, and fun moments.
It will be the most genuine opportunity to get in touch with the spirit of the place, that authentic Florentine spirit that, even if you don't possess it by birth or residence... is always a pleasure to admire.
For more information about the event: Read here!
Stay up to date on: Bacco Artigiano
