Dante's Tomb

Dante Alighieri spent the last years of his life in Ravenna, as guest of Guido Novello da Polenta, and here he completed the Paradiso. He died on the night between 13 and 14 September 1321, returning from an embassy to Venice, and was buried beside the church of San Francesco. Florence, which had exiled him, tried for centuries to reclaim him, without success.

The neoclassical temple you see today was built in 1780-1781 by the architect Camillo Morigia. Inside, above the sarcophagus, is the portrait of Dante sculpted in 1483 by Pietro Lombardo, and from the ceiling hangs the votive lamp: the oil that feeds it is donated by Florence every year, in September, for the anniversary ceremony.

Around it is the Zone of Silence: the Quadrarco di Braccioforte, where during the Second World War the poet's bones were hidden beneath a mound of earth, the Museo Dante and Casa Dante, the ancient Franciscan cloisters and the basilica where his funeral was held.

Entry to the tomb is free, but you view the tomb from the doorway, without entering. To understand the story of the bones, the Museo Dante a few steps away (admission charge, closed Mondays) tells it with original documents and objects.