Loading ...The Dante Alighieri Society was formed in Italy in July 1889 with the intention of creating a society to promote Italian culture and language around the world. The society was named after Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), a pre-Renaissance poet from Florence and the author of The Divine Comedy, who is considered the father of the Italian language. The sole purpose of the Dante Alighieri Society is to promote the study of the Italian language and culture throughout the world – independent of political ideologies, national or ethnic origins or religious beliefs, and that the Society is the free association of not just Italians, but all people everywhere who are united by their love for the Italian languages and culture and the spirit of universal humanism that these represent.
The Dante Alighieri Society of Virginia was founded in 2001. In addition to the regular meetings, the Society sponsors and promotes social and cultural events involving Italian language and culture throughout the year. Festa di Natale celebrates Christmas and Carnevale invokes memories of Venetian pre-lenten festivities, and of course the wonderful production of the annual Opera on the Lawn which celebrates the rich tradition of the Italian opera. The Society also promotes, organizes and participates in various other activities throughout the year, such as Italian film showings, Italian conversation meetings as well as formal Italian instruction, Italian dinners and restaurant outings, lectures, wine tastings and other activities of interest to members.
For further information on the Society’s activities, please contact Dana Redmond at 434-384-8492, and/or visit our website: www.dantealighieriofva.org.
