Poetry Food Wine and
Eroticism
Dante Alighieri was a statesman, poet
and father of the modern Italian language. May 29th 2015 will be the
750th anniversary of his birth in Florence. As a literary figure,
Dante is placed alongside Homer and Shakespeare, creators of larger than life
characters.
The
Divine Comedy, his defining work, is, among other things, a first for the
Italian language and a representation of the spiritual, personal and political
circumstances of his time. The latter led Dante into exile from Florence,
including in Marche where he provided profound
inspiration to the local culture.
Urbino is remembered by Dante in the 27th canto of the Inferno in a
dialogue with Guido of Montefeltro, the local lord. Fiorenzuola di Focara owes
it notoriety for having hosted Dante Alighieri in a baker's house where the poet experienced the
emotion of strong gusts of wind lashing
the promontory on which stands a castle by the sea creating the most incredible and dangerous currents.
The Gradara Castle and rocks live in the hearts of lovers all over the world; here, the love story between Paolo
de Malatesta and Francesca da Polenta - better known as Francesca da Rimini – blossomed, came
to a tragic end was eternalized by Dante
in the V canto of the Inferno. You can view the altarpiece by
Giovanni Santi, father of Raffaello Sanzio – Raphael. Pesaro is not directly cited by the poet, however
it maintains strong connotations to Dante because Gianciotto de’ Malatesti, nicknamed
the Cripple, was mayor of this seaside town and is buried here. Dante consigned
him to Hell.
Fonte Avellana Dante
spent much of his life in the footsteps
of Pier Damiani, to whom he dedicated the 21st canto of
Paradise in the Divine Comedy. He also visited Mount Catria in search
of a peace and tranquility denied him in his native Florence.
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Dante and the Gastronomical Traditions of Marche There is
a rich presence of food in the Divine Comedy and his other works, including
lentil soup laced with wine, figs, apples, honey and vin santo; in all, 14
courses are portayed in the Convivio. Also well-known are the cantos dedicated
to the gluttons in both Hell and Purgatory that accompany his constant hunger;
he even coined the neologism “scuffare”- to eat avidly and noisily. There is a
rapport between diet and eroticism: the gluttons come right after the lustful
in Inferno’s 6th canto and, in Purgatory, those that fall to temptations
of the senses are presented in the last of the seven frames.
A Unique Culinary Experience
Help prepare truffle dishes and other
Marchigiano specialties in these magical surroundings
Some Dishes inspired
by Dante
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Tartare of Madonna Bellaccoglienza these are the classic waffles from Abruzzo wrapped with aged cheese, making them a cannoli. Madonna Bellaccoglienza is the sensual protagonist of the novel in verse "The Flower" which Dante wrote translating from the French "Roman de la rose".
Glauco Omelette a cheese
omelette, served hot and in wedges,
with algae or
herbs that make it gently magical. Glauco,
the legendary fisherman of Boeotia, places his catch on a bed
of herbs, then sees them take heart
and jump back into the sea. He ate the algae,
turned into a fish and became a marine deity.
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Mense alla Virgilio the Piadina of Romagna.
Virgil, Dante's guide in the Divine Comedy,
tells him from the Aeneid that the Trojans acquired the custom of
eating piadine with their food during a stopover in Africa; a culinary tradition they introduce in Rome and
later in Romagna (Inferno 1st).
Torta di Frutti Misti a pie made of applese, pears, figs and plums,
present in all religions.
Vini
dei Colli di Romagna famous area wines – sangiovese,
albana, rebola, vini di sabbia.
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Italy
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Knowledge – Global Reach
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