FRANCESCHI FERRUCCI, CATERINA. — Woman of letters, born at Narni on 26 January 1803, died at Florence on 26 February 1887. Having followed her husband, the Latinist Michele Ferrucci, to Geneva, she returned to Italy and settled in Pisa when he obtained a chair at the University there, and later in Florence. Praised for her verse by Leopardi, Gioberti and Marniani, she was the only woman invited to join the Accademia della Crusca (1871).
In her letters and verse she sings of faith, family and country. Her numerous educational works include: Della educazione morale della donna italiana (Turin 1847); Della educazione intellettuale (4 vols., ibid. 1849–51); Letture morali ad uso delle famiglie (Genoa 1851–52); Degli studi delle donne (Turin 1853); Ammaestramenti religiosi e morali dei giovani italiani (Florence 1877).