Tombstones of the Divine Comedy in Florence - Lapidi della Divina Commedia a Firenze

Tombstones of the Divine Comedy in Florence
(Florence)
Portrait of Dante Alighieri by Botticelli
Itinerary typePedestrian
StateItaly
RegionTuscany
CityFlorence

Tombstones of the Divine Comedy in Florence is an itinerary that develops through the home town of the "Supreme Poet".

Introduction

Dante and his poem, fresco by Domenico di Michelino in the cathedral

In the city of Florence thirty-four are placed gravestones of the Divine Comedy, mostly on the facades of some buildings. The quotations of the triplets are taken from the three canticles: 9 from Hell, 5 from Purgatory, 20 from Paradise, and they review the main events of the city and its illustrious citizens. The tombstones trace a real poetic path on the walls; the municipality of Florence in 1900 gave illustrious Danteists (among them Isidoro del Lungo) the task of looking for citations directed to the city for topographical references in Dante's triplets and precisely identifying those places that were suitable for placing such tombstones. The project was completed in just seven years.

Here are the itineraries that retrace the Florentine places mentioned by Dante in "literary" order. This sorting criterion will involve passing through the same streets several times, but since the heart of Florence is rather compact, the effort required will not be particularly great, and in any case it is always pleasant to walk through the streets of the center.

How to get

Exquisite-kfind.pngTo learn more, see: How to get to Florence.

Stages

Hell

List of quotations from the first canticle:

Inferno Canto VIII, vv. 61-63
  • 1 Inferno Canto VIII, vv. 61-63, Via del Corso (Above the door of number 18). Transcription:
"TVTTI CRYED: - TO FILIPPO ARGENTI! -
IT IS THE BIZARRO SPIRIT OF FIORENTINO
IN ITSELF THE SAME TURNS WITH THE TEETH."
Located where once were the houses of the Adimari relatives of Argenti. 
Inferno Canto X, vv. 58-63
  • 2 Inferno Canto X, vv. 58-63, Via Calzaiuoli (Above the arches of the number 11 red and 13 red). Transcription:
". . . IF THIS IS BLIND
PRISON GO FOR SKILLS,
MY SON, WHERE IS IT? AND WHY IS IT NOT TECO?
AND ME TO LVI: FROM MYSELF I DON'T VIRT
COLVI WAITING THERE FOR THERE MENA ME,
MAYBE CVI GVIDO YOURS HAD A LOT."
Guido Cavalcanti: here were the Cavalcanti houses. 
Inferno Canto X, vv. 91-93
  • Inferno Canto X, vv. 91-93, Piazza della Signoria (In the first courtyard of Palazzo Vecchio). Transcription:
". . . FV ’IO SOL THERE WHERE SUFFERED
PV FOR CIASCVN DI TÒRRE VIA FIORENZA
BELIEVE THAT I DEFENSE HER OPEN FACE."
Farinata degli Uberti. 
Inferno Canto XIII, v 146
  • 3 Inferno Canto XIII, v 146, Old Bridge (In the loggia of Ponte Vecchio). Transcription:
". . . IN SVL PASSO D'ARNO." 
Inferno Canto XV, vv. 82-84
  • 4 Inferno Canto XV, vv. 82-84, Via de 'Cerretani (Between number 39 red and the church of Santa Maria Maggiore). Transcription:
". . . IN MY MIND, IT IS CLOSED, AND NOW ACCURACES ME
LA CARA AND BVONA PATERNAL IMAGE
OF YOU, WHEN IN THE WORLD NOW TO NOW
YOU TEACHED ME HOW THE VOM IS FOREVER!"
Mentioned Brunetto Latini: the tombstone is located in the place where the tomb of Dante's teacher, who died in 1294 ca. 
Inferno Canto XVII, vv. 58-60
  • 5 Inferno Canto XVII, vv. 58-60, Via de 'Tornabuoni (Above the shop window of the red number 1). Transcription:
". . . . . . HOW I LOOKING ABOUT THEM VEGNO,
IN VNA YELLOW BAG VIDI AZZVRRO,
THAT D'VN LEONE HAS FACE AND CONTEXT."
Dedicated to the Gianfigliazzi family. 
Inferno Canto XIX, v. 17
  • 6 Inferno Canto XIX, v. 17, Piazza San Giovanni (At the foot of the outside of the Baptistery, towards via Martelli). Transcription:
". . . IN MY BEAUTIFUL SAN GIOVANNI"
Dedicated to the Florence Baptistery. 
Inferno Canto XXIII, vv. 94-95
  • 7 Inferno Canto XXIII, vv. 94-95, Via Dante Alighieri (Above the door of number 2). Transcription:
". . . . I WERE BORN AND GROWN
OVER THE BEAUTIFUL FIVME D'ARNO AT THE GRAN VILLA"
Dedicated to the birth of the poet (1265) near the Arno river, located near Dante's house on the homonymous street. 
Inferno Canto XXXII, vv. 79-81 and vv. 106-108
  • 8 Inferno Canto XXXII, vv. 79-81 and vv. 106-108, Via dei Tavolini (At the top between numbers 8 and 6). Transcription:
"CRYING, HE SCREARED ME: - WHY DOES IT STRIKE ME?
IF TV DOES NOT COME TO GROW REVENGE
DI MONTAPERTI, WHY DO YOU HARM ME?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WHEN VN ANOTHER HE CRYED: - WHAT DO YOU HAVE TV MOUTH?
SONAR WITH THE JAWS IS NOT ENOUGH,
IF YOU DON'T LATHER TV? WHAT THE DEVIL TOUCHES YOU?"
Dedicate yourself to the figure of Bocca degli Abati. 

Purgatory

Below are the quotations taken from the second canticle:

Purgatory Canto XII, vv. 100-105
  • Purgatory Canto XII, vv. 100-105, Via di San Salvatore al Monte (At the beginning of the steps leading to Piazzale Michelangelo). Transcription:
". . . TO GO UP TO THE MOUNTAIN
WHERE THE CHURCH THAT STAYS SITS
THE WELL GUIDED OVER RUBACONTE,
THE ARDITA FOGA BREAKS IN THE MOUNTAIN,
FOR THE SCALEE, WHICH HAPPENED IN ETADE
THAT THE NOTEBOOK AND THE PLATFORM WAS SAFE."
The basilica of San Miniato and the Rubaconte bridge (today Ponte alle Grazie) are described. 
Purgatory Canto XIV, vv. 16-18
  • 9 Purgatory Canto XIV, vv. 16-18, Piave square (In the tower of the Old Mint). Transcription:
". . . THERE IS SPACE FOR HALF TUSCANY
VN FIVMICEL BORN IN FALTERONA
AND ONE HUNDRED MILES OF COURSE NOL SAZIA."
The Arno river returns to the poet's mind. 
Purgatory Canto XXIV, vv. 79-84
  • 10 Purgatory Canto XXIV, vv. 79-84, Via del Corso (Above the number 31 red and 33 red). Transcription:
". . . . . . . . . . THE LOCO, V'FVI A VIVER PLACE,
DAY BY DAY PIV 'DI BEN SI SPOLPA,
AND TO SAD RVINA PAR DISPOSED.
". . . . . . . . . . WHERE THAT PIV 'N' HAS FAIL
SEE ME IN THE TAIL OF A BEAST TRAINTED
INVER THE VALLEY WHERE IT IS NEVER SCULPTED."
Verses centered on the figure of Forese Donati, located in via del Corso, near the remains of the Donati tower. 
Purgatory Canto XXIV, vv. 82-87
  • 11 Purgatory Canto XXIV, vv. 82-87, Piazza San Salvi (Under the portico of the church). Transcription:
"OR GO, "DISS'EL" THAT THOSE WHO MOST HURT,
I SEE THE TAIL OF A BEAST TRACT
INVER THE VALLEY WHERE IT IS NEVER SCULPTED.
THE BEAST GOES MORE RAT WITH EVERY STEP,
ALWAYS GROWING UP, UNTIL THE PERQUOTE,
AND LEAVES THE BODY VILY UNDEFEATED."
Dedicated to another Donati, Corso, where the army of Arrigo VII stopped. 
Purgatory Canto XXX, vv. 31-33
  • 12 Purgatory Canto XXX, vv. 31-33, Via del Corso (To the right of the entrance to the Portinari-Salviati palace). Transcription:
"OVER CANDIDO VEL CINTA D'OLIVA
WOMAN APPEARED TO ME, UNDER A GREEN COAT,
DRESSED IN COLOR OF LIVE FLAME."
Dedicated to the poet's muse (Beatrice Portinari), where the Portinari houses once stood. 

Paradise

List of tombstones taken from the third and last canticle of the poem:

Paradiso Canto XV, vv. 97-99
  • 13 Paradiso Canto XV, vv. 97-99, Via Dante Alighieri (On the left side of the Badia Fiorentina and to the left of street number 1). Transcription:
"FLORENCE, INSIDE THE ANCIENT CIRCLE,
OND'ELLA REMOVES AGAIN AND THIRD AND NINTH,
WE WERE IN SOBER PEACE AND PVDICA."
Dedicate yourself to the poet's hometown at the Badia Fiorentina. 
Paradiso Canto XV vv. 112-114
  • 14 Paradiso Canto XV vv. 112-114, Via del Corso (Above the shop windows at numbers 1 red and 3 red). Transcription:
"BELLINCION BERTI SAW I WENT GORROUND
OF CVOIO AND D`OSSO, AND COME FROM THE MIRROR
THE SVA WOMAN SANITIZES THE PAINTED FACE."
Dedicated to Bellincione Berti Ravignani. 
Paradiso Canto XVI, vv. 40-42
  • 15 Paradiso Canto XVI, vv. 40-42, Via degli Speziale (Between the window of the red number 11 and the door of the number 3). Transcription:
"MY ANCIENT AND I BORN ON THE SPOT
WHERE IS THE VLTIMO SIXTH FIRST
FROM QVEL THAT RUNS YOUR GIVOCO ANNVAL"
In these verses the ancestors of the Poet are remembered. 
Paradiso Canto XVI, vv. 94-96
  • 16 Paradiso Canto XVI, vv. 94-96, Via del Corso (Above the arcades of the shop at number 4 red and 6 red). Transcription:
". . . . . THE DOOR, WHICH AT PRESENT IS CARCA
OF NOVA FELLONIA, OF SO WEIGHT,
THAT TOUGH IS IATTVRA OF THE BOAT."
Dedicated to the Cerchi family. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 101-102
  • 17 Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 101-102, Via dei Tavolini (Torre dei Galigai, near the red number 1). Transcription:
". . . . . . . . . . AND AVEA GALIGAIO
GOLDEN IN CASA SVA ALREADY ELSA E'L POME."
Dedicated to the Galigai family. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 109-110
  • Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 109-110, Piazza della Signoria (In the first courtyard of Palazzo Vecchio). Transcription:
"OH WHAT WORTH I SAW WHERE THEY ARE UNDEFEATED
FOR THEIR SVPERBIA!"
About the Uberti family. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 110-111
  • 18 Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 110-111, Via dei Lamberti (Between the windows above the number 18 red and 20 red). Transcription:
". . . . . . . . . . AND THE GOLD BALLS
FIORIAN FIORENZA ON TVTT'S GREAT FACTS"
About the Lamberti family. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 112-114
  • 19 Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 112-114, Street of the Geese (Near what remains of the Visdomini tower, between numbers 20 red and 18 red). Transcription:
"SO FACEAN THEM FATHERS OF THOSE
THAT, ALWAYS YOUR CHURCH VACA,
THEY GET FAT, ACCORDING TO THE CONSISTENCY."
Dedicated to Visdomini. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 115-117
  • 20 Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 115-117, Street of the Geese (Between the arches of the shop windows at number 35 red and 37 red). Transcription:
"L'OLTRACOTATA SCHIATTA THAT SHE INDRACA
BEHIND WHO FVGGE, AND WHO SHOWS THE TOOTH
O VER THE BAG, AS 'AGNEL, PLACES."
Adimari family. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 124-126
  • 21 Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 124-126, Village of the Greeks (To the left of the door at number 29). Transcription:
"IN THE SMALL CIRCLE YOU WERE ENTERING BY DOOR
WHICH WAS NAMED DA QVE 'DELLA PERA."
Peruzzi family, with their symbol (the six pears). 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 127-132
  • 22 Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 127-132, Via de 'Cerchi (At the corner of via dei Tavolini). Transcription:
"EACH OF THE BEAUTIFUL SIGN DOES
OF THE GRAND BARON. . .
 
FROM IT HE HAD MILITIA AND PRIVILEGE;
IT HAPPENS THAT WITH THE POPOL YOU CAN GET HAPPY
TODAY YOU KNOW THAT THE BAND WITH THE FRIEZE."
Della Bella family. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 127-130
  • 23 Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 127-130, Via del Proconsolo (On the facade of the church of S. Maria Assunta). Transcription:
"EACH OF THE BEAUTIFUL SIGN DOES
DEL GRAN BARON, THE NAME AND THE VALUE OF THE VALUE
THE FEAST OF THOMAS RECONFORMS,
FROM IT HE HAD MILITIA AND PRIVILEGE."
Dedicated to Hugh the Great. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 136-139
  • 24 Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 136-139, Via Por Santa Maria (At the Amidei tower, above the red number 11). Transcription:
"THE HOUSE OF WHICH YOUR FLEET IS BORN,
FOR THE GIVSTO DISDUST THAT DIED YOU,
AND PVOSE END TO YOUR HAPPY LIFE,
WAS HONORED, IT AND HIS CONSORT."
Amidei family. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 140-144
  • 25 Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 140-144, Borgo Santi Apostoli (At the Buondelmonti houses, above the shop windows in front of street number 6). Transcription:
"O BVONDELMONTE ....................
MANY WOULD BE GLAD THAT THEY ARE SAD,
IF GOD HAD GRANTED YOU TO EMA
THE FIRST TIME YOU COME TO CITY!"
Dedicated to Buondelmonte Buondelmonti. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 145-147
  • 26 Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 145-147, Old Bridge (Corner of Piazza del Pesce). Transcription:
". . . AGREE TO THIS STONE SCEMA
THAT GVARDA THE BRIDGE, THAT FIORENZA FESSE
VICTIM IN THE SVA POSTREMA PEACE."
Dedicate yourself to the statue of Mars, the cause of the clashes between Guelphs and Ghibellines, destroyed by a flood. Located where this statue was. 
Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 149-154
  • Paradiso Canto XVI vv. 149-154, Piazza della Signoria (In the first courtyard of Palazzo Vecchio). Transcription:
"I SAW FIORENZA IN YES REST.
WHICH DID NOT CAUSE CRYING WAVES;
WITH THESE PEOPLE I WAS GLORIOUS
AND GIVSTO THE POPOL SO MUCH THAT THE LILY
IT WAS NEVER BEHIND AUCTION,
NOR BY DIVISION MADE VERMIGLIO."
Dedicated to ancient Florence. 
Paradiso Canto XXV, vv. 1-9
  • Paradiso Canto XXV, vv. 1-9, Piazza San Giovanni (In the Baptistery towards the cathedral). Transcription:
"IF YOU NEVER CONTINUE THAT THE SACRED POEM
TO WHICH HE HAS PLACED HAND AND HEAVEN AND EARTH
YES THAT MACRO HAS MADE ME FOR MORE YEARS,
WIN THE CRUEL THAT OUTSIDE ME
OF THE BEAUTIFUL FURNACE, WHERE I SLEEP LAMB
ANIMIC TO THE WOLVES, WHO GIVE THEM WAR,
WITH ANOTHER VOICE OMAI, WITH ANOTHER FLEECE
I WILL RETURN POET, AND IN THE SOURCE
OF MY BAPTISM I WILL TAKE THE HAIR."
Dedicate yourself to baptism. 
Paradiso Canto XXXIII, vv. 1-9
  • Paradiso Canto XXXIII, vv. 1-9, Piazza del Duomo. Transcription:
"VIRGIN MOTHER, DAUGHTER OF YOUR SON
HUMBLE AND HIGH MORE THAN CREATURE
FIXED TERM OF ETERNAL COUNCIL
 
YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HUMAN NATURE
NOBILITASTI YES, THAT ITS FACTOR
HE DID NOT DISCONTINUE GETTING HIS INVOICE.
 
IN YOUR BELLY LOVE IS GOT UP
WHY WARM IN ETERNAL PEACE
SO THIS FLOWER IS GERMINATED
 
MARIAN YEAR MCMLIV"
Saint Bernard's prayer to the Madonna. 

Safety

Around

Related items

Other projects

  • Collaborate on WikipediaWikipedia contains an entry concerning Tombstones of the Divine Comedy in Florence
1-4 star.svgDraft : the article respects the standard template and has at least one section with useful information (albeit a few lines). Header and footer are correctly filled out.