Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
6 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
6 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
7 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
8 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Florence Dante's Dagger

Dante's Dagger

A medieval weapon rumored to have been used by the brilliant poet himself.

Florence, Italy

Added By
contender
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The dagger.   Justin Ennis
The dagger.   Justin Ennis
Casa di Dante.   Erin Brierley
The dagger.   contender / Atlas Obscura User
One blade to rule them all.   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Museum tickets.   contender / Atlas Obscura User
Outside.   contender / Atlas Obscura User
A blade with a story.   spadaadjusting / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

When in Florence, you don't have to look hard to find tributes to Dante Alighieri, Italy's most famous medieval poet. A small museum, built inside the house believed to have once belonged to the poet, goes beyond merely touching upon his famous work and tells the story of the political circumstances that shaped both Dante and his beloved city.

Dante famously fought in the Battle of Campaldino, during which the Guelphs of Florence squared off against the Ghibellines of Arezzo. It was a historic battle, which saw Tuscany fall under the hands of the Pope-supporting Guelphs.

Dante’s House Museum (Museo Casa di Dante) in Florence, his home city, tells the story of this pivotal battle. Life-sized replicas of various Italian soldiers, including a traditional soldier, a shield-bearer, and a crossbowman, stand within the room.

Weapons from the 13th to 15th centuries fill a glass showcase. One rusted dagger is of particular interest. According to the museum, it was used by a soldier during the Battle of Campaldino—perhaps, even, by Dante himself (hence it being labeled "Dante's Dagger").

In addition to rehashing the events of the battle, the museum tells other stories of Dante’s birthplace. It tells the tale of Florence as the poet lived it, with exhibits dedicated to the politics, powerful people, and economy that shaped its history.

Related Tags

Weapons Museums Museums And Collections

Know Before You Go

The museum is located a few blocks from the Duomo, near Palazzo Vecchio.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

contender

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe, spadaadjusting, Julius Spada

  • Kerry Wolfe
  • spadaadjusting
  • Julius Spada

Published

March 2, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Dante's Dagger
1 Via Santa Margherita
Florence
Italy
43.771081, 11.257069
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Santa Margherita de' Cerchi

Florence, Italy

miles away

L’importuno di Michelangelo

Florence, Italy

miles away

Studiolo Francesco I de’ Medici

Florence, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Florence

Florence

Italy

Places 31
Stories 12

Nearby Places

Santa Margherita de' Cerchi

Florence, Italy

miles away

L’importuno di Michelangelo

Florence, Italy

miles away

Studiolo Francesco I de’ Medici

Florence, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Florence

Florence

Italy

Places 31
Stories 12

Related Places

  • The Lao National History Museum is located in the former French governor’s mansion, built in 1925.

    Vientiane, Laos

    Lao National Museum

    American bombs, morbid memorabilia, and graphic photographs tell the story of the CIA-led “Secret War” from the Pathet Lao perspective.

  • Reconstruction of a catapult.

    Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Mongolian Military Museum

    Thousands of artifacts tell Mongolia's military history, from the Bronze Age to the present.

  • OMAR Mine Museum.

    Kabul, Afghanistan

    OMAR Mine Museum

    A sobering museum dedicated to landmines and the personnel working to remove them from Afghanistan.

  • Unfired ammunition found in the area.

    Valencia, Philippines

    Cata-al World War II Museum

    A vast personal collection of World War II artifacts unearthed over many years by a father-son duo.

  • National Firearms Museum

    Fairfax, Virginia

    National Firearms Museum

    Collecting 700 years of mechanical death-dealing, the NRA's sprawling gun museum is a revealing testament to the American obsession with armament.

  • Livingstone, Zambia

    David Livingstone’s Shaving Mirror

    Combing through this David Livingstone tribute will escort you on adventures through the looking glass.

  • Glasgow, Scotland

    Hunterian Zoology Museum

    An extended zoological collection that doubles as a time capsule.

  • Denver, Colorado

    Clyfford Still Museum

    Soak in the life’s work of one of the country’s foremost modern artists.

    Sponsored by Visit Denver
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.