My visit to the House of Dante

In Florence’s streets cars and bikes bounce on concrete slabs. In the late 1900s the government constructed Dante’s house. Stacked brick mounts 3 stories. Outside three windows gape, two on the second floor, the last on the 3rd floor. Planted under the last window, the 3rd, a three striped flag honors Dante’s birth city. I swung the door open and leapt inside.

On the first floor a Dante portrait greeted me. My hero’s image elevated my caffeine rush. I wished to cup my hero’s image, fly him home. The olive crown, the red vest, allured me. I ascended stairs to the 2nd floor.

The ticket girl’s lower lip folded under her teeth as to say “fiv-“

I slapped a white green Euro on the booth, grabbed my ticket, glided into the 1st room.

On the right was Dante’s lineage painted on the wall. I closed my eyes, said the year Dante was born, exiled, wrote Inferno. I opened my eyes, smiled.

Dante was born in 1265; in 1274 he met his love Beatrice; in 1308 he wrote Inferno. I smiled, proud I knew my hero’s significant life dates.

Glass encased held a 3D image of Dante’s face. The image spun 360 degrees. I touched the outside glass. An energy like electricity surged through me. I was powered, inspired.

I ascended the stairs to the 3rd floor.

Midway between the 2nd and 3rd floor was a window. I leaned half my body out, pelvis up. Laughs and shouts echoed. People bustled in cars, bikes, along narrow streets. One man wore a suit. He froze like a statue. A yellow tie froze around his neck. He wore a giant smile. Two women walked by him; he shouted; they laughed; coins clinked, I laughed. I ascended to the 3rd floor.

Two chairs blocked the entryway to my hero’s room. His bed was arranged as if it was In the photos, midway in the room, flush against the wall. Dante stood by his writing desk. A copy of purgatory in his left hand, his right hand on his desk.

The 3rd floor wall art showed saints in blue, red, white, gazed at heaven; Florence streets decorated the backdrop.

On the 1st floor gift shop I bought Dante’s Inferno, my 4th copy. The cover showed Dante and Virgil mounting a dragon’s back; the backdrop was red as fire. I loved my time at the Casa Di Dante.