Statue of Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri

Legend has it that the medieval Italian poet Dante Alighieri lived in Tolmin for a short period of time. While exploring the surroundings, he visited the Tolmin Gorge and the nearby Zadlaška Cave, which supposedly inspired him to write the darkest verses of his Divine Comedy.

Historical facts do not support this legend; nevertheless, in 1929, when the Primorska Region was part of Italy, a bust of Dante was erected in the middle of Tolmin. It was made by the Italian sculptor Mario Moschi on behalf of Florence, Tolmin’s twin city.

In the spirit of the fascist tendencies of the time, the stone base of the monument read: “Dante along the borders set by God. From Florence to the Italian Tolmin.” To the majority of the Slovenian population, these words were not acceptable.

The statue of Dante became a symbol of fascism for the people of Tolmin, and consequently landed in a landfill after the end of World War II. Later, it was returned to a public place, outside the entrance to the Tolmin Gorge, this time without the controversial inscription. It, however, did not stay there long, as it still evoked negative emotions and memories in people. Finally, it was moved to the Tolmin Museum, where it now forms part of the permanent museum exhibition.