In the heart of Lincoln Square, and across Columbus Avenue from Lincoln Center, is Dante Park, with a towering bronze sculpture of Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) – the famous Italian poet and philosopher. The sculpture, which will undergo a restoration later this year by the Parks Department, was created by Ettore Ximenes and was installed in the park in 1921, which was the 600th anniversary of Dante’s death. 2021 marks the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante and this week on Thursday, March 25, the Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York will “celebrate the genius of Dante” with a reading of excerpts from the Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy); click here to read the official press release. This event follows the Italian government’s designation in 2020 of an annual national day dedicated to the poet, known as the “Father of the Italian language”. March 25th is thought to be the date for the start of the journey in Dante’s Divina Commedia. There will be numerous commemorative events in Italy and worldwide. Art and literary historians will enjoy reading this piece in Forbes regarding Italy’s vast programming. Don’t miss the drawings by the 16th-century Renaissance artist Federico Zuccari, which are being exhibited online, for FREE, by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence; click here for more info.
Over the years, the Lincoln Square BID in partnership with the Parks Department, and thanks to many sponsors, has been the primary caretaker of Dante Park. Visitors to Dante Park can enjoy seasonal flowers and shrubs and can take in the many sites and sounds of Lincoln Square as they sit at our movable tables and chairs. We are proud of what we have accomplished in Dante Park! You can read more about the history of Dante Park by clicking here.
