Vittorio Sermonti, Italian Dante scholar and intellectual, dies at 87

Vittorio Sermonti, an Italian intellectual renowned for his public interpretations of Dante's Divine Comedy, passed away in Rome at the age of 87. Dario Franceschini, the Culture Minister, lauded him as a multifaceted individual who connected with both academics and the general public. Sermonti's diverse career included roles as a writer, actor, journalist, theater and television director, and a professor at the Accademia nazionale d'arte drammatica. His autobiographical work, 'Se avessero,' was a Premio Strega finalist. He also wrote about figures like Mozart and Strindberg and was involved in high society, first marrying Samantha Rattazzi and later poet Ludovica Ripa di Meana. Just days before his passing, he tweeted about taking a break. Notably, he authored three volumes of commentary on Dante's Commedia, aimed at educational institutions, and was a pioneer in public readings of Dante, often televised, before Roberto Benigni's acclaim.