Starting from 2020, in Italy we have a new national commemorable day, March 25th – Dantedì. Which means in Italian “Day of Dante”.

Dante Alighieri, a revered poet whose Divine Comedy is widely regarded as the best poem of the Middle Ages, was born around 1265 in Florence. His poetry influenced literature in Europe for centuries beyond his death. At a time when most poetry was written in Latin, Dante chose to write his verse in Italian dialects, earning him the nickname of “Father of the Italian Language.” He was exiled from Florence to Ravenna for political reasons, and it was during his time in exile that he wrote The Divine Comedy. 

March 25th was chosen as the date because scholars believe that is the date on which Dante began his journey to Hell, Purgatory and Paradise in The Divine Comedy. So that’s why Italy has chosen to celebrate its greatest poet this day.

It’s a good occasion to remember Dante’s genius throughout Italy and the world, with initiatives to involve Italian schools and cultural institutions. All participants will unite (via Internet due to the Covid-emergency in Italy) reading immortal Dante’s Divine Comedy and listening lessons on great poet’s work and life.

As said culture minister Dario Franceschini,

“Dante reminds us of many things that hold us together: Dante is the unity of the country, Dante is the Italian language, Dante is the very idea of ​​Italy”.