History: Journeying Through the Afterlife: The Vatican Library’s “Travel with Dante” Digital Exhibition
Journeying Through the Afterlife: The Vatican Library’s “Travel with Dante” Digital Exhibition Few literary works have shaped Western art, theology, and philosophy like Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy . To commemorate the 7th centenary of Dante’s death (1321–2021), the Vatican Apostolic Library ( Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana ), in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Culture and the "Courtyard of the Gentiles," launched a digital exhibition titled "Travel with Dante" ( Viaggiare con Dante ). By digitizing and displaying primary artifacts from its vault, the Vatican Library offers a virtual pilgrimage through Dante’s three realms— Inferno , Purgatorio , and Paradiso —while highlighting centuries of artistic and editorial reflection on the Supreme Poet. What the Exhibition Features The exhibition curates artifacts that track how Dante’s vision was preserved, interpreted, and visually adapted across seven centuries: Illuminated Manuscripts: Hand-copied cod...