A memorable visit to RAVENNA

In the Basilica of St. Francis (Friday, 19 th Seotemper 2008)

(Left to right: Walter Della Monica, Patrick Sammut,

Prof. Alessandro Gentili and Alfred Palma)

Alfred Palma and Patrick Sammut in front

of Dante Alighieri's tomb in Ravenna

Poet and translator Alfred Palma, together with poet and literary critic Patrick Sammut, last Saturday afternonn retrurned to Malta from Ravenna where, earlierlier this year, Palma was invited by the Centro Relazioni Culturali to visit Ravenna to add Malta's name to those of the other countries which have Dante's Divina Commedia translated in their own tongue. Palma and Sammut were very cordially received; they visited the Comune, were they were presented with a bronze medal, to then tour this lovely mediaeval town, paying a memorable visit to Dante's tomb, annexed to the Basilica of San Francesco. Here, last Friday evening, before a large audience, Palma and Sammut were interviewed by Professor Alessandro Gentili of Madison University (Firenze). Palma was asked questions regarding his Maltese translation, whilst Sammut was questioned about Dante's influence and fortune in Malta over the years. After a reading in Italian of Canto II of Il Purgatorio, Palma, visibly moved, read out his version in Maltese, to be greeted with a long round of applause. Then, Palma and Sammut were honoured with the prestigious trophy Lauro Dantis and a beautiful diploma in parchment form. The two authors were then invited to a reception , with other distinguished guests who had attended this memorable evening in Ravenna, where Malta and the Maltese language were given the honour they always deserved!

See also: http://www.centrorelazioniculturali.it/