Virginia Oldoini

In 1853, the Queen of Italy, Maria Adelaide, tired from giving birth to many children and upon recommendation of her doctor, picked La Spezia as the place where to rest in the sunshine of the Riviera.

As the Queen and the King decided to spend some time here, a new interest towards this place arose: those summery sunny days and these coasts gave life to great love stories, such as the one between the Count Verasis di Castiglione and the flawless Virginia Oldoini, beautiful and intelligent, who in a very short time became one of the most influential women of that time. 
She was born in Florence in 1837 and grew up in La Spezia. She also was the cousin-in-law of Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour – one of the most preeminent men of that period and one of the key figures for the unification of Italy – who entrusted her with a crucial role for the 19th-century history.

Virginia Oldoini, taking the name of Virginia di Castiglione after marriage, was and still is a heavenly figure.  

She was fascinating and seductive, had exquisite intellect and intelligence, and she could speak four languages. Virginia even created encrypted codes for her correspondence with the government of Piedmont and for her personal affairs. She was well aware of her persuasive talent, and soon she became an important figure within the French court, encouraging alliances with Napoleon and endearing herself to the Emperor as his lover.