VENICE-O-METER 10
Must-read history of Venice focusing on women. Includes brief portraits of some of the most epoch-making women in Venetian history as well as a remarkable map and a rich bibliography.
This brilliant, engaging history explores the role of women in the development of the Venetian republic and beyond. The book also highlights specific women whose extraordinary contributions have been largely forgotten . Here are some of the Venetian pioneers I want to read more about:
- Elena Lucrezia Corner Piscopia, the ever first woman to be awarded a Ph.D. (1678, university of Padova) — the Church opposed her graduating in theology, her major, so she switched to philosophy.
- Composers Maddalena Casulana (Renaissance) and Barbara Strozzi (Baroque era).
- Renaissance poet Gaspara Stampa, considered one of the greatest Italian poets of all times.
- Rococo artist Rosalba Carriera, celebrated throughout Europe as a portraitist; her letters and diaries are the basis of Valentina Casarotto’s novel Il segreto nello sguardo. Her apprentice Luisa Bergalli went on to become a prolific writer and translator.
- Catarina Corner, who traveled to Renaissance Cyprus to marry its king; after said king died, she reigned over Cyprus for 16 years. You can see her tomb at the San Salvador church in Venice.
- Enlightenment figurehead Elisabetta Caminer Turra.
- Partisan, journalist, activist, writer Tina Merlin.
- Artist Ida Cadorin Barbarigo (1925-2018).
Reading Venice 
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