Dante's Florence Walking Tour (Self Guided), Florence

Dante Alighieri was arguably the greatest – albeit also most controversial – of Italy's poets. After having served as one of the six priors governing Florence, his political activities – including the banishing of several rivals – led to his own banishment, upon which he wrote his masterpiece, “The Divine Comedy”, as a wanderer, seeking protection for his family in one town after another. This self-guided tour will take you on a trip through Dante's life and work in Florence, before and after the exile.

Born in May 1265, Dante was baptized in the Florence Baptistery, diagonally opposite the Duomo Cathedral, and was later trained as a doctor. His life changed dramatically when, at only 9 years old, he set eyes on Beatrice Portinari and fell in love with her. They ended up marrying other people, but Beatrice remained Dante’s muse, inspiring him to write lofty poetry. You can even visit the stone from where Dante would contemplate and write poems on summer evenings while watching the Florence Cathedral being built. Further along the way, the Church of Santa Margherita dei Cerchi is where the poet officialized his arranged marriage and also where Beatrice, his lifelong love, is said to be buried.

Although Dante’s own resting place is in Ravenna, Florence owns one of his death masks that you can see at Palazzo Vecchio – one of the oldest and most interesting of the many palaces in the city. At the very end of the walk, Basilica di Santa Croce houses Dante’s empty sarcophagus, while a monument to the poet stands in the piazza outside.

Dante left a large footprint in Florence, both during his lifetime and since his death. With so much to see, take this self-guided walking tour to follow in the steps of the Divine Comedy’s famous author.