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'''Beatrice''' "Bice" di Folco Portinari (1266–1290) was born in Florence, Italy, and became the principal inspiration for [[Dante Alighieri]]'s Vita Nuova.

'''Beatrice''' "Bice" di Folco Portinari (1266–1290) was born in Florence, Italy, and became the principal inspiration for [[Dante Alighieri]]'s Vita Nuova.

Portinari also appears as his guide in [[Divine Comedy]] (La Divina Commedia) in the last book, [[Paradise]], and in the last four canti of [[Purgatory]]. There Beatrice takes over as guide from the [[Latin]] poet [[Virgil]] because, as a [[pagan]], Virgil cannot enter Paradise and because, being the incarnation of beatific [[love]], as her name implies, it is she who leads into the Beatific [[vision]].

Portinari also appears as his guide in [[Divine Comedy]] (La Divina Commedia) in the last book, [[Paradise]], and in the last four canti of [[Purgatory]]. There Beatrice takes over as guide from the [[Latin]] poet [[Virgil]] because, as a [[pagan]], Virgil cannot enter Paradise and because, being the incarnation of beatific [[love]], as her name implies, it is she who leads into the Beatific [[vision]].

==Biography==

==Biography==

Her birth name is Beatrice Portinari, the daughter of Folco di Ricovero Portinari, and she was known among [[intimate]]s as Bice. Dante met her when his father took him to the Portinari house for a May Day party at the age of nine. Beatrice, at the time, was a year younger than Dante. Dante was instantly taken with her and remained so throughout her life even though she married a banker, Simone dei Bardi, in 1287. She died three years later in June of 1290 at the age of 24. But Dante continued to hold an abiding love and respect for the woman after her death, even though Dante himself married Gemma Donati in 1285 and had his own children. After Beatrice's death, Dante withdrew into intense study and began composing poems dedicated to her [[memory]]. The collection of these poems along with others he had previously written in his journal in awe of Beatrice became La Vita Nuova.

Her birth name is Beatrice Portinari, the daughter of Folco di Ricovero Portinari, and she was known among [[intimate]]s as Bice. Dante met her when his father took him to the Portinari house for a May Day party at the age of nine. Beatrice, at the time, was a year younger than Dante. Dante was instantly taken with her and remained so throughout her life even though she married a banker, Simone dei Bardi, in 1287. She died three years later in June of 1290 at the age of 24. But Dante continued to hold an abiding love and respect for the woman after her death, even though Dante himself married Gemma Donati in 1285 and had his own children. After Beatrice's death, Dante withdrew into intense study and began composing poems dedicated to her [[memory]]. The collection of these poems along with others he had previously written in his journal in awe of Beatrice became La Vita Nuova.