La Stella di Dante: 50 Oak Trees Form a Star in Florence Park

Felice Limosani's environmental artwork 'La Stella di Dante' has been installed in Florence's Parco di San Donato, Novoli district, to mark the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri's death. The piece consists of 50 Quercus phellos oaks, each 6 meters tall and 30 years old, arranged in a star shape spanning 180 meters. Visible from Google Earth and flights from Peretola Airport, the star changes color seasonally—yellow and red in autumn, then bare branches revealing the star pattern on the ground. Limosani drew inspiration from the closing lines of each canticle of the Divine Comedy: 'e quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle' (Inferno), 'puro e disposto a salire alle stelle' (Purgatorio), and 'l'amor che move il sole e l'altre stelle' (Paradiso). The star symbolizes rebirth and redemption for Dante's exile, with its point directed east toward the Palazzo di Giustizia. Scientific consultation was provided by Professor Stefano Mancuso, with landscape supervision by CNR researcher Alberto Giuntoli. The project is under the patronage of the Comune di Firenze and supported by Florentine leather goods company Il Bisonte spa, whose CEO Luigi Ceccon called it a gift to the city representing sustainability, social responsibility, and gratitude.