鈥淒ante鈥檚 Train,鈥 a rail route tracing the journey of the Supreme Poet from Florence to Ravenna during his exile years, is returning for the summer season.
Launched last year to celebrate the 700th anniversary of Dante鈥檚 death, the vintage steam train takes travelers from Florence, the Tuscan capital, where Dante was born, to Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna, where Dante died in 1321, crossing the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennine mountains and a variety of natural landscapes and medieval villages.
Dante鈥檚 train will stop in four towns along its journey: Borgo S. Lorenzo and Marradi in Tuscany, Brisighella and Faenza in Emilia Romagna, all places Dante himself passed on his way to exile.
Travelers can get off at each of the four stops to visit the villages, their museums and castles, which they can access for free by showing their Dante鈥檚 train ticket, and sample the local cuisine at affiliated restaurants where they can take advantage of special discounts reserved for train ticket holders.
While on the historic 鈥楥entoporte鈥 train, a guide will illustrate the history of the area and of Dante鈥檚 journey and offer tips on what to visit in each of the four towns. When the train arrives in Ravenna, visitors have a few hours to visit the Unesco-inscribed mosaics the city is famous for and then hop back on the train for the return trip to Florence.
The train leaves from Florence early in the morning. Dante鈥檚 presence is everywhere in the city, from the Museum of the House of Dante to the nearby Church of Santa Margherita, where the Poet met Beatrice, from the most famous image of Dante, painted by Domenico di Michelino in 1465, on display in the Cathedral, to his statue in Piazza Santa Croce and Dante鈥檚 funeral mask kept in Palazzo Vecchio.
The train then passes through Mugello, an area long dominated by the Medici family, to reach Borgo San Lorenzo (first stop), continuing across the hills of Vicchio where artists of the caliber of Giotto and Beato Angelico were born. After passing Crespino del Lamone - a village known for the quality of its water and fountains - the train stops in Marradi, the Apennine town famous for its chestnuts, and Brisighella, rated among 鈥溙烀来解檚 Most Beautiful Villages,鈥 where an excellent extra virgin olive oil is produced. The next stop is Faenza, renowned for its ceramics, and finally Ravenna, the city where Dante finished writing the Comedy and spent the last years of his life until his death in 1321. Dante鈥檚 tomb is in Ravenna, and, recently, a Museum and House dedicated to him have been inaugurated.
Dante鈥檚 Train runs between June 4 and November 1, 2022, every Saturday and Sunday.
For more information and to book your tickets, visit .
