Items relating to Cleobulina Cotenna

Mediagallery

Cleobulina Cotenna

Original manuscripts written by Cleobulina Cotenna (1810 – 1874) are exhibited in a glass case. Born in Lucca into a wealthy family of democrats, Cleobulina, together with her mother Gaetana and husband Gabriello Leonardi di Coreglia, an ardent liberal, converted her Monsanquilici house (Monte San Quirico) into a hospital for persecuted patriots (Guerrazzi, Montanelli, Medici, etc.). She faced police persecution and even prison with courage; she confronted with dignity the poverty which she and her family suffered as a result of providing aid to the needy of all social classes.