Explores the turbulent background of medieval Florence from 1216 to Dante's birth in 1265, and chronicles Dante's childhood, education and early career as a poet and politician - culminating in his exile in 1302. The film also examines his decision to begin The Divine Comedy in 1306 - plunging with Dante and his readers into the underworld itself where, guided by the great Roman poet, Virgil, he will meet a vast cohort of historical and mythological figures - and arriving finally at the very bottom of hell, in their encounter with Lucifer himself.
