Via
Dante
Dante Alighieri (; – 14 September 1321), probably baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri and often referred to as Dante (, ), was an Italian poet, writer and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called (modern Italian: '' ...
today is a pedestrian street in central
Milan, Italy
Milan ( , , Lombard language, Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the List of cities in Italy, second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 ...
, connecting
Piazzale Cordusio
Piazza Cordusio (also informally referred to as Piazzale Cordusio)The terms "piazza" and "piazzale" both refer to city squares, the latter being used for "larger" squares. While Cordusio is a rather large square, its formal name is "Piazza Cordusio ...
(near the town center and the
Cordusio metro station) with Largo Cairoli (to the northwest and housing the
Cairoli metro station). The Cairoli station is near to the Filarete tower and the entrance to the
Castello Sforzesco
The Castello Sforzesco (Italian for "Sforza's Castle") is a medieval fortification located in Milan, northern Italy. It was built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, on the remnants of a 14th-century fortification. Later reno ...
.
The street is named after the Florentine poet
Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri (; – 14 September 1321), probably baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri and often referred to as Dante (, ), was an Italian poet, writer and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called (modern Italian: '' ...
, is now known for its chic shops, restaurants, cafés, and bars. The street is flanked by multistory elegant ''palazzi'' (palaces), mainly built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Around Piazza Cordusio, are the palatial offices designed by Luigi Broggi of
''delle Assicurazioni Generali'' (1897-1901);
''del Credito Italiano'' (1901); and ''delle Poste'' (1901). At the north end of the Piazza is the
Casa Broggi
Casa Broggi is a monumental building located at the intersections of Via Dante, Via Meravigli, and Via Santa Maria Segreta, at the northwest end of Piazza Cordusio. The polygonal palace has facades on the three streets mentioned above with the most ...
(1895), designed by Broggi and his pupil
Sommaruga. On via Rovello 2, corner with via Dante is the 15th-century Palazzo Carmagnola, now housing the
Piccolo Teatro (literally "small theatre").
Up until 1958, the street contained several transport links as well as a tramway line. In 1996 it was converted to a fully pedestrian area, the Milan Metro can be accessed through stations nearby.
Streets in Milan
Pedestrian streets in Italy
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