Dante's Plaque: Piazza del Duomo

“VERGINE MADRE, FIGLIA DEL TUO FIGLIO, UMILE ED ALTA PIÙ CHE CREATURA, TERMINE FISSO D'ETERNO CONSIGLIO, TU SE' COLEI CHE L'UMANA NATURA NOBILITASTI SÌ, CHE ‘L SUO FATTORE NON DISDEGNÒ DI FARSI SUA FATTURA. NEL VENTRE TUO SI RACCESE L'AMORE PER LO CUI CALDO NELL' ETERNA PACE COSÌ È GERMINATO QUESTO FIORE”

DANTE, PAR., XXXIII, 1-9

"THOU VIRGIN MOTHER, DAUGHTER OF THY SON, HUMBLE AND HIGH BEYOND ALL OTHER CREATURE, THE LIMIT FIXED OF THE ETERNAL COUNSEL, THOU ART THE ONE WHO SUCH NOBILITY TO HUMAN NATURE GAVE, THAT ITS CREATOR DID NOT DISDAIN TO MAKE HIMSELF ITS CREATURE. WITHIN THY WOMB REKINDLED WAS THE LOVE, BY HEAT OF WHICH IN THE ETERNAL PEACE AFTER SUCH WISE THIS FLOWER HAS GERMINATED.”

Dante is now ready for the final stage of his journey to the Underworld, and it is here, in Paradise, that St Bernard addresses a prayer to the Virgin Mary; a sublime prayer that she intercedes to enable the poet to be admitted at the presence of God. The saint sings the praises of Mary, mother of the Redeemer and source of hope and charity for all men who can reach God through her. It is no coincidence that the plaque is located at the headquarters of the Arciconfraternita della Misericordia, symbol of the Florentines' Christian charity.

For further information on hospitality and charity tradition in Florence, click here.