King Charles and Queen Camilla Pay Tribute to Dante in Ravenna

RAVENNA, Italy, 10 April 2025 (BSS/AFP) – King Charles III and Queen Camilla concluded their state visit to Italy on Thursday with a deeply symbolic visit to the tomb of Dante Alighieri, Italy’s revered national poet, in the historic city of Ravenna. The royal couple also admired the city’s world-renowned mosaics, just a day after a surprise audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican.

Royal Visit Draws Crowds and Warmth in Ravenna

Thousands gathered in Ravenna’s medieval centre, waving British flags and cheering the arrival of the monarch and queen on the fourth day of their official tour. At 76, King Charles looked at ease as he greeted well-wishers, exchanging handshakes with some and receiving bows and curtsies from others.

Earlier this week, the royal couple marked their 20th wedding anniversary with a grand state banquet in Rome.

Honouring Dante: Father of the Italian Language

The King and Queen attended a solemn reading of the final canto of Dante’s Divine Comedy, a cornerstone of Italian literature. They then visited Dante’s tomb, where the exiled Florentine poet spent his final years and died in 1321.

Dante, often called the “father” of the Italian language, was exiled from Florence due to his political beliefs. He found refuge in Ravenna, a city that continues to honour his memory with deep cultural pride.

“I hope I’m not ruining Dante’s language… so much so that I never get invited back to Italy!”
– King Charles III, speaking partly in Italian during his address to the Italian Parliament

The King, who has made 18 official visits to Italy, included Dante in his speech to parliament – a nod that resonated warmly with the Italian public.

Local Reactions: A Day to Remember

Rita Monari, a 68-year-old teacher from Ravenna, praised the King’s efforts to speak Italian, saying:

“When someone speaks your language, it creates a sense of closeness. It means a lot.”

Paola Bonifazzi, who travelled from Milan, added:

“I love the royal family and I love King Charles. Seeing them here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

A Surprise Audience with Pope Francis

In a gesture that surprised many, Charles and Camilla paid a private 20-minute visit to Pope Francis on Wednesday. The 88-year-old Pontiff is still recovering after a five-week hospital stay due to pneumonia. An earlier planned official visit to the Vatican had been cancelled due to his illness.

Celebrating Italian Culture and Sustainability

Before their departure from Italy, the royal couple is scheduled to:

Explore Ravenna’s ancient mosaics dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries.

Meet local artisans working to preserve the mosaic tradition.

Visit the Byron Museum, where Queen Camilla will tour exhibitions dedicated to Lord Byron, the British poet who spent part of his life in Italy.

Tour a local farmers’ market and meet agricultural workers impacted by recent severe floods in the Emilia-Romagna region.

Many of these farmers are part of the Slow Food movement, which emphasises sustainable, traditional, and regional food production—principles long supported by King Charles.

Context: Floods and Farming Crisis in Emilia-Romagna

Impact of Flooding on Local Agriculture (2022–2024):

*Preliminary figures for 2024 based on regional agricultural board estimates.

Charles’s visit to the region highlights not only a cultural celebration but also solidarity with struggling rural communities—a theme central to both his environmental activism and broader diplomatic outreach.

A Visit Rich in Symbolism

From Dante’s tomb to the chambers of the Vatican and the farmlands of Ravenna, the royal visit underscored the deep historical, cultural, and political bonds between the United Kingdom and Italy. It was a poignant reminder of shared heritage, mutual admiration, and enduring diplomacy.