About Us

The Dante Alighieri Society Sydney is the oldest Italian cultural institute in Australia, founded in 1896 by Dr Tommaso Fiaschi, an eminent Italian who migrated to Australia towards the end of the 1800s. The Sydney chapter of the Society was established only a few years after the first Società Dante Alighieri was founded in Rome in 1889 by a group of intellectuals led by the Nobel Prize-winning poet Giosuè Carducci. We are one of 460 societies operating worldwide, thanks to the voluntary work of people dedicated to promoting the appreciation and understanding of Italy’s rich cultural heritage in all its forms and expressions. The core of our mission is the organisation of cultural events and the provision of Italian language courses, taught exclusively by native-speaking teachers with impeccable academic preparation. While our registered office is located in Riverview, NSW, our language courses and cultural events take place at various venues across Sydney – as well as online – ensuring that anyone with a passion for Italian culture can participate no matter where they are. Since its foundation, the Dante Alighieri Society Sydney has thrived through the support of professionals from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared love for Italian language and culture.