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Official Tourist Information Site
of Ravenna

The Zone of Silence

Via Dante Alighieri, 9 - Ravenna

In Ravenna, when people talk about the ZONE OF SILENCE, they refer to the portion of the historical centre that has Dante’s Tomb as its main focus.

This area is the result of a series of urban works carried out between the 1920s and 1930s.

It consists of some of the most important monuments connected with the so-called Father of the Italian language Dante’s tomb – the Quadrarco of Braccioforte; the Old Franciscan Cloisters; Dante Museum and the Basilica of San Francesco.

An urban planning project in memory of Dante Alighieri

The project designed by architect Giorgio Rossi was originally meant to create an area of respect, peace and tranquillity around Dante’s sepulchre, including the monument of the Quadrarco and the Old Franciscan Cloisters.

Works were carried out, and the area was closed to the traffic and isolated from the noise of city life. This conferred to the entire area a dimension of sacredness and contemplation, thus becoming the earthly “last refuge” of Dante Alighieri.

Through a series of demolitions and reconstructions, new squares and traffic diversions, the Zone of Silence became a fundamental intervention example of the city’s urban history.

The project was not just promoted locally – the works were also made possible thanks to the then Fascist government’s involvement. The Fascist government showed namely the importance Dante had always had for the Italian cultural identity – Dante became an object of pride for the entire country.

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Ravenna wants its 9th Unesco World Heritage monument

In view of the 7th centenary of Dante Alighieri’s death, the municipal administration of Ravenna has submitted the nomination to acknowledge as a Unesco monument the entire Zone of Silence.

The nomination request was submitted at the end of 2015, the same year in which Ravenna was elected Italian Capital of Culture and was busy with the celebrations of Dante’s 750th birth anniversary, on behalf of the Municipality of Ravenna, the Minor Convent Centre of the Franciscan Friars, Cassa di Risparmio and Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ravenna.

The “Zone of Silence”, with the Supreme Poet’s tomb, the Quadrarco di Braccioforte, the Old Franciscan Cloisters (house of Dante Museum and Dante Centre of the Minor Convent Friars), the Basilica of San Francesco, where Dante’s funeral was held, with its parvis and piazza – as can be read in the official Nomination Subscription: “Is one of the most suggestive areas in our city, the cultural and identity-making symbol of a heritage that goes beyond the Ravenna territory and gains a universal value, house to several initiatives of great importance, which keeps alive the memory of Dante and his work, claiming it not only with a scientific rigour but also with a contemporary passion”.

Further information

Opening times

Always open.

Free of charge

The area is entirely accessible to people with disabilities.

How to get there

The Zone of Silence is in the medieval heart of Ravenna, in a pedestrian area limited to the traffic.

On foot: the area can be easily reached on foot from the nearby railway station.

By bus: just 20 m from the area, in Piazza Caduti per la Libertà is a bus stop well-connected with every route.

By car: the city centre of Ravenna is limited to the traffic. More information about the nearest parking areas HERE.

A cura della Redazione Locale
E-mail: turismo@comune.ravenna.it

Last edit:29 September 2023

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