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6 February 2019

6 February

Beatrice Cenci - Roman heroine


Aristocrat's daughter executed for murder of abusive father

Beatrice Cenci, the daughter of an aristocrat whose execution for the murder of her abusive father became a legendary story in Roman history, was born on this day in 1577 in the family's palace off the Via Arenula, not far from what is now the Ponte Garibaldi in the Regola district.  When Cenci was beheaded at Castel Sant'Angelo in September 1599, most of the onlookers convinced were convinced an injustice had taken place. Read more…

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Ugo Foscolo – poet


Revolutionary who expressed his feelings in verse

The writer Ugo Foscolo, who became a revolutionary who wrote poetry and novels that reflected the feelings of many Italians during the turbulent years of the French revolution, the Napoleonic Wars and Austrian rule, was born Niccolò Foscolo on this day in 1778 on the island of Zakynthos, now part of Greece, but then part of the Republic of Venice.  Foscolo’s talent was probably not sufficiently appreciated until after his death. Read more...

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Girolamo Benivieni - poet


Follower of Plato, Dante and Savonarola

The poet Girolamo Benivieni, who turned Marsilio Ficino’s translation of Plato’s Symposium into verse, was born on this day in 1453 in Florence. His poem was to influence other writers during the Renaissance and some who came later, including Pietro Bembo and Baldassare Castiglione. At one time, Benivieni fell under the spell of controversial preacher Girolamo Savonarola. Read more...

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Amintore Fanfani - politician


Former prime minister who proposed "third way"

Amintore Fanfani, who was six times Italy’s prime minister and had a vision of an Italy run by a powerful centre-left alliance, was born on this day in 1908.  His commitment to finding a “third way” between communism and the free market became a major influence on centre-left politicians not only in Italy but in other parts of the world. The American president John F Kennedy told colleagues it was reading a book by Fanfani that persuaded him to dedicate his life to politics. Read more…

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