Italy marks 700 years since Dante’s death with hundreds of events

Rome (dpa) – A global pandemic isn’t keeping Italy from celebrating the 700th anniversary of national poet Dante Alighieri’s death, with hundreds of events planned, said Culture Minister Dario Franceschini.

Readings, exhibitions, concerts and lectures are among the events planned throughout 2021 to honour the poet famous for the “Divine Comedy,” said Franceschini on Saturday at an online press conference.

One highpoint will be on March 25, which is when Italy marks Dante Day every year, when Oscar winner Roberto Benigni will read verses. The 68-year-old actor’s appearance in Rome will be televised.

Dante was born in Florence in 1265 and died in 1321 in Ravenna, in Emilia-Romagna. Both cities are planning extensive celebrations, while in Rome, the Scuderie del Quirinale museum is planning a show called “Inferno” that starts October 5 and runs until January 2022.

Because of the coronavirus, only museums in low-risk zones are allowed to open. There are also plans to allow limited audiences back into theatres from the end of March depending on infection numbers.