I am in Arezzo, at Count Guidi’s Poppi Castle where Dante lived a part of his exile from Florence.

Yes, this year marks 700 years from the death of Dante Alighieri and he is just as alive now as he was in 1321!

But who is Dante?

He is the Prophet of Hope, he is the Cantor of Human Desire, the Poet of the Mercy of God and Witness of Human Desire for Happiness.

Dante announces our Liberation.

Dante is the author of the “Divine Comedy”, a three-part Epic Poem, 100 very vivid stories which shaped the world. Dante escorts his friends to Paradise but first drags them through Hell and Purgatory and finally reaches Paradise and thus defines the three for all of humanity.

We all feel like we travelled with Dante on our “COVID Journey” for we have been in exile from life as he was in forced exile from Florence, and we are now just about to exit Purgatory and make our way to Paradise. Our Journeys are similar.

Dante gave us a “New Beginning”

Dante’s vision of the Afterlife, in the “Divine Comedy” influenced the Renaissance, the Reformation and helped give us the modern world, as well as, the Italian language.  Dante’s vision of Hell has inspired countless artists from Botticelli, Signorelli, Delacroix, Dalí, and Rodin, to video game designers and the 2010 action video game, Inferno on PlayStation and Xbox.

Dante’s writing mixes Christianity and Roman myth and brings together literary and theological expression, pagan and Christian, that came before it while also containing the DNA of the modern world to come. No other author has ever been able to express universal human sentiments like fear, hope and passion as Dante.

Even if you have never read a single line of the “Divine Comedy”, you’ve likely been influenced by it.

Dante took us on a “Tour of Hell” and now he is offering us a party because “Life is now!”

Stay well and stay safe…

FOLLOWLAILA TO THE PARTY…

Italy is ready to celebrate Dante, but not only that. Let’s choose all of the below.

• Venice celebrates its 1600th birthday from its founding in 421 A.D. this year. There are so many great reasons to come to Venice and join the exciting festivities. Carnival Extravaganzas are returning after Covid in March of 2022.
• Italy is celebrating  the Renaissance painter, Raphael Sanzio, and his works on the 500th anniversary from his death in 1520-21.
• Celebration of Dante, Raffaello and Leonardo continues through 2023.