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On the occasion of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy the statue of Dante Alighieri, in front of the Church of Santa Croce in Florence will be restored. The statue was made by the sculptor Enrico Pazzi in 1865, in order to celebrate the sixth centenary of Dante's birth. The statue of Dante, who is considered the father of the italian language, was originally put in the middle of Santa Croce square and it became the simbol of the terrible flood Florence had in 1966, with the photograph showing the water lapping against Dante's feet. Then in 1968 the statue was moved to the steps of the Basilica of Santa Croce (where you can still see it) so that the traditional annual matches of the Calcio Storico (Historical Footbal) could be played in the piazza. The restauration is estimated to cost almost 50,000 euros. Do not miss the opportunity of visiting the famous Church of Santa Croce, the chest of italian glories, with the very many italian men buried inside and the monumental graves of Michelangelo and Galileo! Reserve a private tour with an official tourist guide in Florence and enjoy the experience!
