Every weekend, from June 4th to July 10th and from August 27th to October 30th (excluding September 10th but with the addition of an extraordinary ride on November 1st), it is possible to board a historic convoy and travel from Florence , Dante's birthplace, in Ravenna, where he is buried.
The train dedicated to the Supreme Poet covers the 136 kilometers of the Faenza line - the first in Italy to cross the Apennines - and makes four stops in the villages that most inspired the author of the Divine Comedy: Borgo San Lorenzo and Marradi, in Tuscany;
Brisighella and Faenza, in Emilia-Romagna.
It is a unique travel experience between art, culture and food and wine, under the banner of slow tourism aboard a historic train that crosses the heart of the
Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines to discover the lands that most inspired Dante Alighieri.
You travel along an enchanting path that combines famous cities of art and medieval villages, completely immersed in nature on board a train called "Centoporte", a historical example made available by the FS Italiane Foundation, which has three environments: one open for the standard class (at the time it was the third class), with the characteristic wooden interiors, the first and second class with upholstered sofas and Liberty details, for a total of 230 seats in addition to the postal car and the historic engine .
On each car there is an assistant who accompanies the travelers and tells them the story of the places touched during Dante's exile.
The guides also provide valuable information on what to visit at each train stop: villages, castles, historic buildings and museums, by showing the train ticket.
It is also possible to make stops in restaurants and clubs where there is an additional discount with the Dante Train ticket, which can be purchased on the website: iltrenodidante.it (from 38 euros for the single route and with discounts for children and free at 4 years).
On Sundays the Dante Train leaves Florence at 8.50 am and arrives in Ravenna at 11.57 am, from where it restarts at 5.54 pm.
On Saturday, however, you can choose the new "cruise" formula which includes three technical stops and one of an hour and a half in Brisighella (4 and 18 June, 2 July, 27 August, 24 September, 8 and 22 October) and in Faenza (11 and 25 June, 9 July, 3 and 17 September, 1, 15 and 29 October).
With this formula, travelers can make visits or tastings in the two locations: Brisighella, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, offers oil or ice cream tastings while in Faenza you can discover the traditional production of artistic ceramics.
From Florence, the city where Dante Alighieri was born in 1265, the train travels to Vaglia, the first municipality of Mugello, and then reaches the Borgo San Lorenzo stop.
It then continues towards Ronta, Scarperia and San Piero a Sieve, these last two villages united and dominated by the de 'Medici family.
You pass the hills of Vicchio, which gave birth to Giotto and Beato Angelico and, after passing Crespino del Lamone, a village famous for its fountains and water quality, the train continues and stops in Marradi, the Apennine town where he was born. the poet Dino Campana and where there is a beautiful restored eighteenth-century theater.
The next stop is Brisighella, with a visit and walk in the historic center.
The train then continues to Faenza, famous all over the world for the production of artistic ceramics, and arrives in Ravenna,
For more information: iltrenodidante.it (ANSA).
