Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Ravenna Dante's Tomb

Dante's Tomb

Italian poet Dante Alighieri is entombed in this small mausoleum in Ravenna, and his hometown of Florence has never been too happy about it.

Ravenna, Italy

Added By
lastpearl
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Dante’s Tomb, Ravenna   John W. Schulze
In the tomb   John W. Schulze
In the tomb   Pivari
Dante’s Tomb   lastpearl (Atlas Obscura User)
Dante’s tomb with WWI memorial wreath   lastpearl
Dante’s memorial at Santa Croce in Florence - where Dante is NOT entombed   Gryffindor
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Much to the dismay of the jealous Florentines, Ravenna is home to the tomb holding the actual bones of the great poet Dante Alighieri. That fancy "tomb" in Florence? Without a body, it’s just a memorial.

Dante died in Ravenna in 1321, where he was in exile, just 90 miles from his native Florence. But since his works often included thinly veiled references to powerful people of the time, he wasn't really welcome in Florence anymore, so he was interred there in Ravenna.

It took a couple of hundred years, but when enough time had passed to heal old wounds — and his work proved to be beloved masterpieces — Florence decided they wanted their poet back, even building a beautiful memorial for his remains. In 1519 Pope Leo X ordered the bones to be transferred to Florence, but the papal order was refused. Instead, an empty coffin was sent back. The Franciscan monks who had charge of Dante's remains had secretly removed them from the tomb, and hidden them in their monastery.

It’s not clear exactly when, but at some point the remains were moved again, and they ended up in the wall of the church near the tomb. It wasn’t until 1865 that the hidden bones were found during some renovations, almost 350 years after they had been quietly whisked away.

The mausoleum in Ravenna is a simple marble structure with the poet’s tomb inside. It actually seems more fitting to look for Dante in an out-of-the-way place like a little side street in Ravenna. There at least he’s not bothered by so many tourists.

 

Related Tags

Tombs Literature

Know Before You Go

The tomb is connected to the Basilica di San Francesco in Ravenna. The small marble mausoleum is down at the end of a narrow side street and is easy to miss - so follow your GPS to find it. Besides being the final resting place of Dante, Ravenna also has some of the most perfectly preserved Byzantine mosaics outside of Istanbul. There is now a metal gate preventing access to the interior of the tomb.

 

 
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

lastpearl

Edited By

Martin, anneschuchman, bankercb

  • Martin
  • anneschuchman
  • bankercb

Published

April 1, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Alighieri
  • http://www.nola.com/travel/index.ssf/2013/05/the_battle_for_dante.html
  • http://santatatiana.blogspot.com/2012/02/dantes-memorial-in-ravenna.html
Dante's Tomb
Via Dante Alighieri, 9
Ravenna, 48121
Italy
44.416413, 12.200806
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Flooded Crypt of San Francesco

Ravenna, Italy

miles away

Arian Baptistry

Ravenna, Italy

miles away

Baptistery of Neon

Ravenna, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ravenna

Ravenna

Italy

Places 9
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Flooded Crypt of San Francesco

Ravenna, Italy

miles away

Arian Baptistry

Ravenna, Italy

miles away

Baptistery of Neon

Ravenna, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ravenna

Ravenna

Italy

Places 9
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Mary Shelley Grave

    Bournemouth, England

    Mary Shelley's Grave

    The author of Frankenstein is buried here, along with her parents and the heart of her husband, the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.

  • The pathway connecting Saint-Malo to Grand Bé.

    Saint-Malo, France

    Grand Bé

    On this romantic tidal island reachable only at low tide the tomb of a famous French writer overlooks the sea.

  • The alleged tomb.

    Glastonbury, England

    'King Arthur's Tomb'

    In the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey lies the alleged resting place of the legendary king.

  • Tomb of Hafez

    Shiraz, Iran

    Tomb of Hafez

    A dreamy mausoleum honors Persia's most famous poet.

  • Mausoleum of Rudaki in Panjrud, Sughd, Tajikistan. June 27, 2016.

    Pandzhrudak, Tajikistan

    Tomb of Rudaki

    Where the father of Persian poetry is laid to rest.

  • Seyitgazi, Turkey

    Seyigazi Türbesi

    A hilltop fortress full of tombs, including one for legendary hero Seyyid Battal Gazi.

  • Sherlock Holmes Statue

    London, England

    Sherlock Holmes Statue

    This tribute to the fictional detective stands at the famous literary character's address.

  • Stock up on picnic supplies with a side of history.

    Boyne City, Michigan

    Horton Bay General Store

    Ernest Hemingway used to frequent this general store, which appears in several of his short stories.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.