Italy prepares for 700th anniversary of ‘Father of the Italian language’

Florence: Italy will mark the 700th anniversary of the death of the mediaeval poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri, known as the Father of the Italian language, with a programme of commemorative events in 2021.

Born in Florence in 1265, Dante wrote his verses in the vernacular, opting for Tuscan dialect in an era when poetry was generally composed in Latin, meaning it was only read by the most educated readers.

Dante’s unorthodox approach is credited with making literature accessible to the public, as well as paving the way for important Italian writers such as Petrarch and Boccaccio.

Dante also had a profound influence on Western art through his depictions of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven.Dante is best known for his poetic trilogy La Divina Commedia, or The Divine Comedy, which made an indelible impression on both literature and theology.

The poet died on September 13 or 14. 1321, aged 56, while in exile in Ravenna, where his tomb can be visited today at the Basilica di S. Francesco.

Dante’s anniversary programme will take place mainly in Ravenna, with events also expected to take place in 70 Italian towns and villages connected to the poet either through his writings or personal life.