Dante Alighieri was born in Florence in 1265 A.D. He is widely accepted as the first author to write in the everyday vernacular that soon evolved into modern Italian, as well as credited with the creation of Italy's most enduring literary work, The Divine Comedy. Comprised of three separate canticles, the poem details a journey in the afterlife through L'inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Paradise), and is as much a historical chronicle as it is a literary achievement. Written entirely after Dante's 1302 exile from the city, The Divine Comedy is a window into nearly every aspect of medieval history, theology, politics, art, and culture; in particular, as it relates to Florence. During this three hour Dante tour in Florence, led by a scholar, we will follow Dante's path through the city, exploring the places and characters that inspired his masterpiece—and, by extension explore both the life of Dante Alighieri as a historical figure and The Divine Comedy as a work of fiction where Florence as a city plays a central role.

We begin with a discussion of the Baptistery where Dante himself was baptized and where he later drew inspiration for L'inferno, drawing from the building's biblical mosaics depicting the Last Judgment. We will move from here to Dante's neighborhood, deep in the heart of medieval Florence, where we will find the exterior of Dante's home as well as his local church. It was at the church that he first encountered Beatrice, his beloved muse and spiritual guide for whom he wrote The Divine Comedy.

Along the way, we will see where Dante's enemies lived and explore the innumerable tucked-away locations important to Dante's story: corners, side streets, and piazzas where many of his characters came to life. We will also visit Palazzo dell'Arte della Lana, important during Dante's time, as the location of the Wool Guild, but which today serves as The Dante Society meeting place, as well as the Dante Library where scholars from around the world come to continue to study his legendary poem.

Looking to explore the life of another distinguished Florentine? Discover the life of Michelangelo on our Accademia Gallery Tour. For those more interested in visual art, try our Uffizi Gallery Tour.