When did Girolamo Savonarola organize the most famous Bonfire of the Vanities?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The most famous "burning of the vanities" organized by Girolamo Savonarola took place during the Carnival season of 1497 in Florence.12

During this event, Savonarola’s followers collected items they considered "vanities"—such as gaming tables, cards, lewd pictures, and personal ornaments—and burned them in a bonfire to dedicate their destruction to the Lord. While these campaigns against worldly possessions were a recurring feature of his moral crusade, historical accounts note that the actual destruction of significant books and works of art during these fires was negligible.12