Dante's itinerary: in San Gimignano on the trail of the Supreme Poet
In the city of many towers, where the Middle Ages reign supreme and draw the profile of the historic center, the presence of Dante Alighieri is strongly felt. The myth of the Supreme Poet and the Canticles of the Divine Comedy create a red thread to be followed among the squares and countryside of San Gimignano, in an itinerary suspended between antiquity and contemporaneity, to rediscover the city that Dante saw and knew. The itinerary begins with the ambuscade fulfilled by the Supreme, who on May 7, 1300, arrived in San Gimignano, in the Palazzo Comunale, to deliver a famous political harangue.
1. The Palazzo Comunale: Sala di Dante and Camera del Podestà
The first stage of the itinerary leads inside the Palazzo Comunale of San Gimignano, in the splendid Piazza del Duomo. In the Sala di Dante, frescoed by Azzo di Masetto you will seem to be catapulted back in time, among the paintings that recall knights' tournaments and hunting scenes. It was in this very room that Dante Alighieri gave his speech to support the cause of the Guelph League of Tuscan municipalities. In the same room today one can admire Lippo Memmi's Majesty, made a few years after Dante's ambassadorship.
The climb inside the majestic Torre Grossa-the highest in the city-gives the view a cycle of frescoes created by Memmo di Filippuccio in the early 1300s. Among these works, a fascinating, though debated, depiction might depict the famous kiss of Paolo and Francesca, the ill-fated lovers Dante encounters in Canto V of the Inferno.
2. The Rocca Vernaccia Wine Experience
A "white queen" in a land of fine reds, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG was the first white wine to obtain DOC certification.
In the Middle Ages, the production of Vernaccia wine and saffron-now certified DOP-was already flourishing and a source of luster for the town; even today these products continue to be the pride of local food and wine production. To discover them, the tour stops at the Rocca Vernaccia Wine Experience, and offers a meeting with San Gimignano producers.
The walk that leads to the Rocca di Montestaffoli passes by the ancient Via Francigena, the historic path that, since before the year 1000, has immersed itself in the beauty of the San Gimignano landscapes.
3. The Duomo
Next we return to the Duomo of San Gimignano, a marvel of art and history. In its naves Taddeo di Bartolo illustrated Dante's Paradise and Hell in 1393, resulting in astonishing works. In the representations, Jesus, Mary and the Holy Spirit are presented to the eye surrounded by musician angels, while the imposing demonic figure of Satan dominates Hell and punishes the great traitors of history such as Judas, Brutus and Cassius. In the center of the counter façade, an incredible stained glass window created by contemporary artist Marcello Aitani shines with scenes inspired by the Canticle of Paradise.
4. Porta San Giovanni
Following the red thread traced by Dante's life and work we reach Porta San Giovanni, one of the entrances to the historic center. The gateway underwent major restoration work in 1921, on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the poet's death, in order to restore with increasing accuracy what the city environment was like at the time of Dante's visit. Equally important restorations were carried out in buildings in the historic center among which are: Palazzo Marsili current Palazzo della Cancelleria, Casa Razzi, Case Martini, Casa Salvestrini, Casa Semplici, Casa Lorini.
5. Church of San Lorenzo in Ponte
The stop at the Romanesque church of San Lorenzo in Ponte leads inside the Divine Comedy. The doors of the church, completely decorated inside, open wide onto an admirable cycle of frescoes created by Cenni di Francesco di Ser Cenni. Dating from 1413, the paintings are entirely inspired by Dante's work, and depict the afterlife through evocative details that accompany the visitor into the mouth of Hell, then up the mountain of Purgatory and into the idyllic skies of Paradise.
6. Municipal Library and Historical Archives
The itinerary ends in the halls of the Municipal Library and Historical Archives, which hold priceless documents and an important catalog. In the past, the library housed a room dedicated to the "Dantesque Exhibition," in which collections and memorabilia related to the Supreme Poet were displayed. The documents preserved here are a real pass for a journey through time, as well as a testimony to Dante Alighieri's lasting influence on the culture and history of San Gimignano.
Dante's San Gimignano is a perfect opportunity to explore in depth the history of the city, which is inextricably linked to the genius who gave birth to one of the world's most famous and studied poems. The itinerary, curated by the City of San Gimignano and the San Gimignano Civic Museums, can be booked in advance at Opera Laboratori by contacting the references listed on the official poster for Dante's San Gimignano.
