Women who, with their courage and vision, have left an indelible mark on history.

Caterina de’ Medici (1519-1589)

Born in Florence, Caterina de’ Medici became Queen of France and later served as regent. Her influence extended beyond politics: she introduced Florentine culinary arts to the French court, bringing innovations and recipes such as “papero al melarancio,” which in France became known as “Canard à l’orange” (Duck with orange). She also contributed to the spread of shortcrust pastry and ice creams, along with many other inventions tailored to her taste that later became fashionable or widely used, such as the fork, high heels, the corset, and the sidesaddle. Some portraits of this extraordinary Florentine woman can be found at Palazzo Pitti.

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653)

Although born in Rome, Artemisia Gentileschi spent the most significant period of her life in Florence. She was the first woman admitted to the Academy of the Arts of Drawing. She was apprenticed to the painter Agostino Tassi, who raped her. Supported by her father, Orazio, she pressed charges. The trial concluded the following year with an unprecedented outcome—Tassi was sentenced to exile for his crime. Understanding this story is key to grasping Artemisia’s torment, emancipation, and fierce independence. Her art, marked by intense emotional depth, defied the conventions of her time, allowing her to establish herself in a male-dominated world. She proudly referred to herself as a “pittora” (female painter). At the Uffizi Gallery, her Beheading Holofernes is on display, where Artemisia depicts herself as Judith, expressing her rage over the injustice she endured.

Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici (1667-1743)

The last descendant of the Medici dynasty, Anna Maria Luisa carried on her family’s legacy: she collected artworks, oversaw the final arrangement of the Medici Tombs, and commissioned the bell tower of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. However, she is best remembered for “defending the Family Pact“, which ensured that Florence’s artistic heritage would not be dispersed:

“On the express condition that nothing intended for the adornment of the State, for public utility, and to attract the curiosity of foreigners shall be removed or taken outside the capital and the Grand Duchy.”

Thanks to her, we can admire the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens, the Medici Chapels, and much more in their original form. Welcoming visitors at the Uffizi entrance, her portrait hangs right above the ticket office.

Eleonora Duse (1858-1924)

A celebrated theater actress, Eleonora Duse was not Florentine by birth, but she had a strong connection with the city. In 1908, she discovered a small abandoned theater on Via Ghibellina and decided to transform it into her personal rehearsal space. Until April 13, the exhibition “Partirò e porto le cose a casa” will be open at the Teatro della Pergola, showcasing personal objects belonging to the actress that have been carefully preserved for over a century.

Margherita Hack (1922-2013)

Born in Florence on “Via Centostelle” (literally “Hundred Stars Street”), it seemed destined that Margherita Hack would become an astronomer. She was an Italian physicist specializing in astronomy. She attended the Galileo Classical High School in Florence before enrolling in the Faculty of Physics at the University of Florence. Her graduation score of 101/110 did not reflect the significance of her thesis—a research study on Cepheid variable stars, whose brightness variations help us understand the expansion of the universe. After graduation, she continued studying stellar spectroscopy at the Arcetri Astronomical Observatory before becoming an assistant professor of Optics at the university. She later became the first Italian woman to direct the Astronomical Observatory of Trieste.

Oriana Fallaci (1929-2006)

Considered the most influential and controversial Italian journalist of the 20th century, Oriana Fallaci left her mark on journalism by tackling uncomfortable topics and interviewing powerful figures. Throughout her extraordinary life, she traveled the world documenting events and seeking the truth, challenging a society dominated by male figures. Renowned for her direct and confrontational style, she interviewed world leaders and reported on conflicts from a unique perspective, defying conventions and fiercely defending freedom of thought. These days, the TV series Miss Fallaci has been released, set in the late 1950s, portraying the early career of Oriana Fallaci (played by Miriam Leone).