Did you know that Ripatransone hosts one of Italy’s most fiery traditions?
Literally! The weekend after Easter, we joined the local crowds for the Ottava di Pasqua (the Sunday after Easter) to witness the legendary Cavallo di Fuoco. While the rest of the world was quietly finishing their Easter chocolate, we were standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our neighbors in the village square, waiting for the sparks to fly.
The Cavallo di Fuoco isn’t your typical organized fireworks display; it’s a historic spectacle dating back to 1682. Legend has it that a pyrotechnician from Abruzzo, after celebrating the feast of the Madonna di San Giovanni, hopped on his horse and set off his remaining fireworks while galloping across the square. The locals loved it so much they decided to do it every year.
By the 18th century, they swapped the live horse for a wooden (now metal) one on wheels, rigged with crackers, fountains, and rockets.
Watching the “horse” enter the square is an adrenaline rush like no other. The atmosphere is electric.
Once the streetlights go out, the show begins to the tune of the “Marcia 23,” the event’s official anthem. After that, embrace the chaos. It’s a community event. Its famous Baffi (side rockets) shoot out sideways, and the Girella (the spinning wheel) marks the grand finale. People of all ages bring cowbells and whistles, singing and dancing as the horse passes.