FRANCESCHI FERRUCCI, CATERINA. - Woman of letters, b. at Narni on 26 Jan. 1803, d. at Firenze on 26 Feb. 1887. From Ginevra, where she had followed her husband, the Latinist Michele Ferrucci, she returned to her homeland and settled in Pisa, when he obtained a chair at the University there, and later in Firenze. Praised for her verses by Leopardi, Gioberti, and Mamiani, she was the only woman called to join the Accademia della Crusca (1871).
In her letters and verses she sings of faith, family, and country. Her educational works were numerous, among them: Della educazione morale della donna italiana (Torino 1847); Della educazione intellettuale (4 vols., ibid. 1849-51); Letture morali ad uso delle fanciulle (Genova 1851-52); Degli studi della donna (Torino 1853); Ammaestramenti religiosi e morali dei giovani italiani (Firenze 1877).