Dante Alighieri Society

Dante Alighieri Society

The Dante Alighieri Society is a non-profit organization supported by enthusiastic volunteers who assist in promoting Italian language and culture. We provide a gateway for people all over the world to the culture, language, food, wine, history, art, opera, music, cinema, fashion and industry of Italy.

Founded in Rome in 1889, the Society took its name from Dante Alighieri, the author of the Divine Comedy and one of the founders of the Italian language. Our Society is an international organization with the aim of promoting Italian language and culture, reanimating the links between Italians living abroad and their homeland, and nourishing and disseminating a love of Italian culture throughout the world.

There are currently more than 450 Dante branches around the world with the number continuing to grow. In Australia there is at least one committee in every State.

In South Australia the Society began in 1964 and celebrated its 50th anniversary at Parliament House at the end of 2014. The Dante Alighieri Society of S.A. organizes a wide range of programs for its members and the community at large and is one of only two official providers in Australia of the internationally recognized Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri (PLIDA) Certification in Italian.

Italian Language Certification

The Adelaide branch provides Italian language classes and Italian proficiency certification, organises musical recitals and public lectures on Italian language and culture and supports the South Australian State Opera Company and Italian film festival.

We are one of only two official providers in Australia of the Certificate of Italian Language Proficiency –PLIDA– recognized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and the Ministry of University and Research for the facilitated enrolment of foreign students in Italian universities.

In 2013 the Society also acquired a very important educational role in the State by running the Italian Language and Culture Project in Schools as Managing Institution (or Ente Gestore) for Italian Government funds destined to the support of teaching of Italian Language and Culture in South Australian schools. With the help of the Italian Consulate in Adelaide, the State Education Department and the Catholic Schools office from 2013 to 2015 we have supplied a number of Italian Language Assistants to over 30 State and Catholic schools and have supported the learning of over 3500 students. The Society has also supported the creation of a Bilingual Immersion Project at the Norwood Morialta Secondary School with funds and the appointment of an Italian Language Assistant. In 2015 and 2016 we have run workshops for teachers of Italian with the help of the State Education Department. We hope to be able to continue this very important work for many years to come.

If you are a lover of Italian language and culture, food and love to travel to Italy come and join us and experience the world in Italian.