Italy celebrates Father of the Italian language.

Italy marks the fourth edition of Dantedì, the national day dedicated to Dante Alighieri, on Saturday 25 March.

The annual event in honour of the mediaeval poet and philosopher - known as the Father of the Italian language - follows the 700th anniversary of his death two years ago.

A programme of Dante-themed events will take place across Italy on the day, from readings and conferences to documentary screenings and theatrical productions.

• Italy celebrates Year of Dante

25 March was chosen for Dantedì as it is the date given by scholars for the start of the journey to the afterlife in Dante's epic, The Divine Comedy.

The long narrative poem represents a 14th-century vision of the afterlife, describing Dante's journey through the three realms of the dead: Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory) and Paradiso (heaven).

• Dante: 700 years of The Divine Comedy

Dante, who began composing the groundbreaking trilogy in or around 1308, wrote the poem's 14,233 lines in the vernacular, opting for the Tuscan dialect which was accessible to the masses rather than the traditional Latin reserved for the most educated readers.

For the full 2023 programme of Dantedì see Italy's culture ministry website.