Easter in Florence
Feb 2nd, 2019 | 06:34 AM
#1
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Joined: Jan 2014
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Easter in Florence
My parents are taking a mediterranean cruise and will be in Rome on Saturday (Easter Vigil) and Florence on Easter Sunday. I know Florence has the cart explosion on Easter. Does anyone know where they may be able to attend a Catholic Easter service? It's hard to find this information online. They are trying to determine if they should do the excursion to Florence or if it will either be too crowded or shut down for Easter and then they would go to Tuscany.They prefer Florence and really want to find a Catholic church for Easter and then go see the main sights. Has anyone been before at this time?
Feb 2nd, 2019 | 07:18 AM
#2
Joined: Feb 2004
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I came across a reference for booking (?) mass at Santa Maria Novella at 10 AM Easter Sunday.
I can't imagine a Catholic church not having mass on Easter Sunday, can you? Isn't that why they're there?
Here's a thread from tripadvisor dealing with mass in English
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...e_Tuscany.html
I can't imagine a Catholic church not having mass on Easter Sunday, can you? Isn't that why they're there?
Here's a thread from tripadvisor dealing with mass in English
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...e_Tuscany.html
Feb 2nd, 2019 | 07:35 AM
#3
Joined: Mar 2005
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When traveling I use www.masstimes.org.
The order of mass is the same in any language so there is no absolute need to seek out an English mass. Attending mass in a foreign language is a nice experience.
The order of mass is the same in any language so there is no absolute need to seek out an English mass. Attending mass in a foreign language is a nice experience.
Feb 2nd, 2019 | 07:57 AM
#4
Joined: Feb 2003
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What time would they arrive in Florence? Easter Mass at 11 am in the duomo is an unforgettable experience! Yes, the cart explodes outside so if you are inside the cathedral, you may not see it. But, inside, you'll see the pageantry and the processions, and, at the Gloria, watch the mechanical dove speed over the main aisle to light the cart. You will hear the music of the instruments and the choirs, and, oh, the bells! There will be crowds. Perhaps we should have arrived about 45 minutes before the beginning of Mass. We approached the cathedral much later than that, worked our way through the crowds waiting outside, and did not get seats; we were standing for the entire Mass. I don't understand Italian. But I understand the universality of the Mass and the joy of Easter. Magnificent!
Feb 2nd, 2019 | 04:07 PM
#5
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Thank you so much for your replies. They don't get in to the port until 9:30 am so they probably wouldn't be able to make the 11am mass. They are hoping there is a noon or 1pm mass, even if it is at a smaller church and it doesn't have to be in English. I tried Masstimes.org but it seems many of these Catholic churches post the times outside the church and not online. It would be nice to find somewhere ahead of time so when they arrive in Florence, they have a plan.
Feb 2nd, 2019 | 05:32 PM
#6
Joined: Jul 2014
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We were there last Easter. It was crowded but not unbearably so. The city was absolutely not shut down. The area around the Duomo was packed in the afternoon but other than that the crowds were manageable. ..... Easter lunch and dinner are popular events in the good restaurants, so make your reservations early. We had Easter dinner at Risrorante Sant Ambrosio and it was very good. .......... The Duomo has mass in conjunction with the cart explosion spectacle. That is the one I would go to. We attended an Easter vigil mass on Saturday night in the Tuscan countryside and arrived in Florence on Easter. We were hoping to see the cart explosion, but got there too late. ..... The weather was beautiful last Easter. We did a lot of walking around the city that day, including up to Piazza Michelangelo and San Miniato.
