Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet born in 1265 in Florence, Italy. He is most famous for writing The Divine Comedy between 1307-1321, an allegorical poem about man's journey to God divided into Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. As a young man in Florence, Dante fell in love with Beatrice Portinari after meeting her in 1274, and she became his muse. Though she married another, Beatrice died in 1290 at age 24; Dante immortalized his love for her in his poems as representing divine love and virtues.

1. Dante Alighieri (1265-1321 ) Italian poet wrote La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy), his allegory of life and God as revealed to a pilgrim, written in terza rima ; Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Paradise), written between 1307 and 1321.

12. Dante looks longingly at Beatrice (in white) passing by with friend Lady Vanna (red) along the Arno River