Dante in Venice: Secrets of the Divine Comedy Walking Tour

Highlights

• Expert Guided Tour
• Dante's Venetian Connections

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Campo San Polo

   20min

   Campo San Polo: The Soranzo Legacy: Begin the tour in Campo San Polo, one of Venice’s largest squares, dominated by the Palazzo Soranzo. Here, Dante was hosted in 1321 during his diplomatic mission on behalf of Guido Novello da Polenta, the lord of Ravenna. Learn about the Soranzo family and the historical context of Dante’s visit to Venice.

2. 2

   Chiesa di San Giacomo di Rialto

   20min

   Church of San Giacomo di Rialto: The Heart of Venetian Trade Head to the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto, one of the oldest churches in Venice, located near the iconic Rialto Bridge. Dante likely visited this area during his stay, where the bustling mercantile activity would have shaped his view of Venice. Discuss the significance of trade and commerce in Dante’s time and how it ties into his view of the world in the Divine Comedy.

3. 3

   Campo Santa Maria Formosa

   15min

   Campo Santa Maria Formosa: The Merchant’s Venice This bustling square was a hub of commercial activity during the Middle Ages and offers a glimpse into the mercantile Venice Dante would have witnessed. Discuss the economic and political significance of the city and how it is reflected in Dante’s depiction of the Arsenale in Inferno (Canto XXI).

4. 4

   Palazzo Ducale

   20min

   The Doge’s Palace: Dante’s Venice of Power The heart of Venetian power, the Doge’s Palace, represents the grandeur and complexity of the Serenissima. Dante would have been struck by its magnificence, echoing the divine justice that permeates the Divine Comedy.

5. 5

   Riva degli Schiavoni

   20min

   Riva degli Schiavoni: Reflections of Exile Stroll along the Riva degli Schiavoni, once a thriving commercial port. Here, reflect on Dante’s life in exile, a theme central to his work, as he gazed across the sea and contemplated ideas of home and separation.

6. 6

   Arsenale di Venezia

   20min

   The Arsenale: Infernal Imagery in Venice End the tour at the entrance to the Arsenale, Venice’s legendary shipyard, vividly described in Inferno (Canto XXI). Discover how Dante compares the work of the shipbuilders to infernal scenes, blending the symbolic and the real in this iconic location.

7. 7

   Venice

   5min

   Each stop will be enriched with readings from the Divine Comedy, historical anecdotes, and connections between Dante’s legacy and Venice, creating a truly immersive cultural and literary experience.

Before you go

Location