Italian street artist ‘Grandpa Dante’ charms fans on debut in Kaifeng

For 26 years, this Italian street artist has brought the poet Dante to life outside Florence’s Uffizi Gallery. Standing motionless like a statue, he connects gently with visitors through eye contact, gestures and embraces. Many Chinese travelers bring plush toys especially to pose for photos with him, turning these heartwarming encounters into viral social media moments.

Marco, dubbed “Grandpa Dante”, recently appeared at Wansuishan Martial Arts City in Kaifeng, Henan, where crowds of fans lined up to interact with him. In an interview with China Daily, he said seeing Chinese visitors pose with plush toys is a lovely and deeply moving sight.