Florence: Dantesque walk for the 700 years of the poet's death

The capital of Tuscany is at the heart of Dante's work.

The poet was born there in 1265 before being driven out in 1301 when the black Guelphs, favorable to the pope, took power (he supported the white Guelphs who were opposed to it), forcing him to choose between banishment or the stake.

During his 20 years of exile, Dante never ceased to harbor regrets for his homeland, criticizing on the one hand the corruption of the governors of Florence, and on the other wishing to see his family and his beloved city again.

The 700 years of the poet's death offer a great opportunity to (re) discover a Dantesque and medieval Florence.

To discover

• Partner stay in Italy |

  8 days |

  Italian lakes, great enchanting sites

To read also: "We have before us the challenge of a new Renaissance", Dario Nardella, Mayor of Florence

Feel the breath of Dante at Palazzo Vecchio

Giotto's fresco of Dante, in the Palazzo del Bargello.

Press photo

Built in Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of medieval Florence, Palazzo Vecchio was still under construction when the author of the Divine Comedy had to go into exile. Dante will never see the impressive 94m tower, but his funeral mask is on display in the palace. This is a plaster copy, the authenticity of which has often been disputed. Yet the face conforms to all known portraits of the poet, with an expression so intense that it gives the impression of being able to come alive at any time. To discover a younger and less severe Dante, head to the Bargello Palace, whose chapel houses a fresco by Giotto representing him. An exhibition dedicated to "the oldest and most honorable Florentine citizen" will be held in the palace from May 11 to August 8, 2021.

Palazzo del Bargello.

Via del Proconsolo, 4, 50122, Florence.

Visits by reservation.

From 8 € per person.

Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, 50122, Florence.

Visits by reservation.

From € 12.50 per person.

musefirenze.it

Wait for the return of his remains in the Basilica Santa Croce

The Santa Croce Basilica, where the poet's cenotaph is located.

Adobe Stock / danflcreativo

With its neo-Gothic facade covered with white and green Prato marble (dating from the 19th century), this basilica built at the end of the 13th century by the Franciscans was to compete with Santa Maria Novella, built by the Dominicans.

To finance the work, the disciples of Saint Francis had to appeal for donations from the wealthy Florentines who were subsequently buried in the church.

There you will find the cenotaph of the illustrious poet, in case Ravenna ever returns the remains.

For nearly five centuries, the Florentines have tried to repatriate it, but the Ravennois are opposed to it.

Some grudges are stubborn ... To the left of the church stands a monumental statue of the poet.

Basilica Santa Croce, Piazza Santa Croce 16, 50122 Florence.

Entrance by reservation 8 €.

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Florence: the

Figaro

travel guide

Imagine hell at

Battistero di San Giovanni

The ceiling of this octagonal church recalls certain scenes from Dante's Hell.

Adobe Stock / Brad Pict

Located opposite the Duomo, this octagonal church, whose architecture is very reminiscent of that of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, is one of the oldest Florentine buildings.

It was in this place that Dante was baptized.

Once past its impressive bronze doors, adorned with sculpted panels, you have to look up.

On a gold background, the sublime mosaics on the ceiling show frightening scenes of devils crushing bodies, as Dante recounts Hell in

The Divine Comedy

.

At the foot of the baptistery, a moving statement by the poet has been added where he speaks of his return to Florence, once in paradise.

Battistero di San Giovanni, Piazza San Giovanni, 50122 Florence.

Entrance by reservation from € 3.

Dreaming about the beautiful Beatrice in the Quartiere Dantesco

Dante's house in Florence. Regione Toscana

Any Florentine will tell you that Dante was inspired by his never-ending love for Beatrice. There is no proof that this ideal young girl really existed, but there was a Beatrice Portinari who lived in Dante's time and died very young. The poet would have met her at the age of 9 and then seen her again, nine years later, before she married. Dante never ceased to idealize this love to the point of making Beatrice the noble soul that leads him to Heaven. It is in the heart of the medieval quarter of Florence, where the remains of the tower houses stand, that we find Beatrice's home, the Palazzo Portinari Salviati (via del Corso, 6), transformed into luxury apartments. Dante's house, on the other hand, is a late reconstruction, which has become an interactive museum.In the same street is the small Romanesque church of Santa Margherita dei Cerchi, where Beatrice is buried.

La Casa di Dante, Via Santa Margherita 1, Florence.

Open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ticket from € 5.

Admire Florence from the square of

San Miniato al Monte

The very steep staircase of the basilica reminded the poet of Purgatory.

Mariangela Montanari

To reach this basilica perched on a hill, you have to cross Ponte alle Grazie and continue towards Piazzale Michelangelo.

Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, the Church of San Miniato al Monte is dedicated to a saint martyred under the Roman Empire.

Its Romanesque facade and mosaics are beautiful, but it is the very steep staircase leading to the church that Dante compares to the climb to Purgatory.

Up above, on the square, the view over Florence is marvelous.

We imagine that the poet kept it in memory during his exile.

San Miniato al Monte, via del Monte alle Croci 24. Open daily from 9.30 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm.

Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m.

Free admission.

Read also: Renaissance stroll in Rome on the occasion of the Raphael exhibition

Practical notebook

GO

The companies Alitalia, Air France and Vueling serve Florence from France.

It takes around 1 hour 55 minutes for a direct flight from Paris.

All travelers are required to present a negative PCR test that was carried out less than 48 hours before entering the point of entry into Italian territory.

Tuscany does not currently impose a quarantine on French nationals.

More information on our updated map and here.

MOVE

The bicycle is the ideal means of transport to travel around Florence, a city undergoing sustainable transformation.

There are self-service bicycles that can be found on the Movi by Mobike application (App store or Google Play).

SLEEP THERE

Situated at the top of a medieval 12th century tower, the Torre Donati is a beautiful apartment with views of the Duomo, Santa Croce and Palazzo Vecchio.

The tower is believed to have belonged to the family of Gemma Donati, Dante's wife.

From € 276 per night for 5 people.

More information on the events and routes around the 700th anniversary of Dante's death:

feelflorence.it/

visittuscany.com