Inspiration is a feeling directly related to our soul and emotions. It is that spark, that has the power to change our ideas about the world. It motivates us in the pursuit of our own development. Inspiration in each of us could come from different sources. Often these sources are the personal examples of the people around us or those we admire. What they have managed to achieve is an indicator of doing the supposedly impossible. And when we set out on the path of self-forgetfulness and despair, it is the stories of such people that act as our morning coffee. They awaken our inspiration and immerse us in creativity and enthusiasm.
In today’s article, we will continue the topic on women in Italian history who have outstanding achievements in their field. We will present you four heroines that the Renaissance state is proud of, to awaken your inspiration.
We will start with a woman who changed the course of history – Matilda of Tuscany – the Great Countess. Born in 1046, she was one of the most essential figures in the politics of medieval Italy. Matilda was very educated, fearless, determined, and was the ruler of a large territory – Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Lombardy. During her reign, she fought in constant battles and gave a new form to the city of Florence. Matilda is one of the six women who are buried in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and her memorial tomb was created by arch. Gian Lorenzo Bernini – the creator of the Baroque in Italy.
We continue with a woman whose name is a symbol of education and fashion – Catherine de ‘Medici. Born in Florence in 1519 and left without parents from a very early age, Catherine grew up in Rome well educated.
Extremely smart and independent, she married the then Prince of France – Henry II, and later became Queen of France. As a connoisseur of fashion and creativity, she brought a lot of innovation to the French court. She invented corsets and bloomers and introduced the habit of using perfume. Thanks to her, wearing shoes higher than became a trend. She also spread the fork usage, which was not used anywhere in the world during that time. Catherine is remembered as an impressive queen.
The next inspiring woman on the list is Grazia Deledda, the first Italian to receive the Noble Prize for Literature and the second woman to receive it. She learned to read and write before going to school, but her education ended after the 4th grade, and she became a self-taught intellectual. Grace was a representative of the literary movement Verism (realism), and her works focused on concepts such as love, pain, anger, and death. Her books have been translated into many different languages and adapted
for the big screen. Deledda left a significant mark on Italian literature and became an original voice among his contemporaries.
We will end with the Italian who won the first Oscar for best actress – Anna Magnani. An iconic actress of Italian neorealism and one of the few public figures in Italy who has a star on the Walk of Fame. Anna graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome and quickly achieved a glamorous career, working with the greatest Italian and international directors. Described as a “fiery woman” by Time magazine and as the “mother of Italian cinema”, she was one of the most beloved women of the twentieth century.
The stories of these four women inspire respect and clearly show that the “gentler” gender can be a huge enough inspiration for each of us. And their actions and achievements – that strength is not just a physical indicator.
