Two Maltese poets, Alfred Palma, translator of Dante's Divina Commedia, and Patrick Sammut, who is also a literary critic, were honoured with the prestigious trophy Lauro Dantis in Ravenna, Italy last week.

Mr Palma was earlier this year invited to visit Ravenna by the Centro Relazioni Culturali to add Malta's name to those of the other countries which have Dante's Divina Commedia translated in their own tongue.

Mr Palma and Mr Sammut visited the comune where they were presented with a bronze medal, and then visited Dante's tomb, annexed to the Basilica of San Francesco.

Here, before a large audience, Mr Palma and Mr Sammut were interviewed by Prof. Alessandro Gentili of Florence's Madison University.

Mr Palma was asked questions regarding his Maltese translation, while Mr Sammut was questioned about Dante's influence in Malta over the years.

After a reading in Italian of Canto II of Il Purgatorio, Mr Palma, visibly moved, read out his version in Maltese, to be greeted with a long round of applause. The two Maltese poets were then honoured with the Lauro Dantis trophy and a beautiful parchment-like diploma.