Prospettiva Dante

A festival in the heart of Ravenna, Dante's city

Prospettiva Dante is the only festival in Italy entirely dedicated to Dante Alighieri. Born in 2011, it takes place every September in Ravenna, in Emilia-Romagna, the city that has guarded the Poet's Tomb since 1321. It is no coincidence that the festival has chosen the Ancient Franciscan Cloisters (the so-called Dantean Cloisters) as its "home". Owned by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ravenna and located right next to the Dantean sepulchre, it is a symbolic place where the memory of the Supreme Poet is a living and daily presence.

Five days of culture and entertainment

The event, promoted by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ravenna, offers five days of events, all with free admission. The program blends different registers: conferences and masterclasses by Dante scholars and academics, staged readings, poetry readings, theatrical performances, concerts, and musical moments. The stated goal is to create a dialogue between rigorous scientific dissemination and great live entertainment, to present a living and current Dante to the public.

Guests and protagonists

Throughout its editions, Prospettiva Dante has hosted prominent national actors, musicians, writers, and academics. Recent editions have featured figures such as Gabriele Lavia, Tosca, Paolo Rumiz, Jacopo Veneziani, Roberto Mercadini, and numerous scholars associated with the Accademia della Crusca, which long supported the festival's scientific direction. The artistic direction is entrusted to Domenico De Martino.

The novelty: the "Giallo Dante" competition

The 2026 edition introduces a significant new feature: the "Giallo Dante" narrative competition, which combines the figure of the Poet with the mystery and detective genre. The competing stories must be linked to Dante, 14th-century Florence, or characters and situations from the Divine Comedy. The jury is chaired by Giancarlo De Cataldo, and the best stories are awarded and collected in a dedicated anthology, with the award ceremony included in the festival program in September.

Why it's worth it

• The only Italian festival entirely dedicated to Dante Alighieri
• Unique setting in the Ancient Franciscan Cloisters, next to the Poet's Tomb
• All events with free admission
• Program combining high-level dissemination, theatre, music, and poetry