Much is said about the Medici, their power, their wealth, and their love for collecting art; however, little is mentioned about their love stories. In a world where marriages were arranged for political or economic reasons rather than love, genuine passions were rarely considered, especially for members of a noble house like the Medici. The story between Bianca and Francesco remains one of the most beautiful and tragic to this day. It is one of those tales that ends tragically within the walls of one of the most beautiful and still visitable villas of the Medici: the Villa di Poggio a Caiano.
Bianca Cappello was born in Venice in 1548 to Bartolomeo and Pellegrina Morosini, both of noble blood. She lost her mother at a young age and was left alone with her father, who had already planned a monastic life for her. Fortunately, her maternal aunt changed her father’s mind, and the young Bianca began attending the cultural environment of the noblewoman, coming into contact with the intellectual world of Venice. During one of these meetings, at just fourteen years old, she met a young Florentine: Pietro Bonaventuri, the son of a “notary and chancellor of the Mercanzia in Florence“. Pietro showed interest in the young girl, who, after the death of her aunt and fearing being cloistered in a convent, decided to flee with Bonaventuri. The news of Bianca’s escape caused such a scandal in the city that it prevented any kind of relationship with her family and any return to Venice for many years. Upon their arrival in Ferrara, they were guests of Giovan Battista Pigna, who organized their wedding a few days later. The following year, their daughter Pellegrina was born. Such a sensational escape moved and disturbed many hearts, leading Monsignor Cosimo Bartoli, Cosimo I’s agent in Venice, to ask the Grand Duke of Tuscany for help and protection for the young couple.
In 1563, Pietro and Bianca, just seventeen years old, arrived in Florence under the protection of Grand Duke Cosimo I. When Francesco, the Grand Duke’s eldest son, met Bianca, he had just returned from Spain, where he was hosted at the court of Philip II. It was after this trip that Francesco decided to dedicate himself to the study of botany and alchemy. The desire to learn those arcane mechanisms became his life’s goal. When duties allowed, he loved to isolate himself in his study or the foundry at the Casino di San Marco for his researches on nature, which he defined as “the visible expression of the invisible”.
Unveiling the arcane of life and the mystery hidden in divine creation became the ultimate aspiration of the future ruler of Tuscany. Bianca was also knowledgeable about these subjects. It has always been said that Francesco was interested in Bianca for her captivating appearance, but we can deduce that he was also attracted to her shared interest in the alchemical world.
Although it is said that the love between Francesco and Bianca was at first sight, this was not the case, or at least not for Bianca. It took several months before she succumbed to the prince’s flatteries and the long poems and letters he dedicated to her. During these months, Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany, was organizing Francesco’s marriage to Archduchess Joanna of Austria, sister of Maximilian II of Habsburg, the eldest son of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor. This union would elevate the Grand Duchy of Tuscany to the role of the third power in Europe, a significant political strategy that proved to be an emotional failure from the start. The wedding preparations proceeded fervently, with Cosimo sparing no expense to give Florence a spectacular image. On December 18, 1565, Francesco and Joanna married.
Marital life presented difficulties from the beginning. The Austrian girl, who unfortunately was not attractive, could not gain her husband’s attention, which was entirely for his beloved Bianca. After giving birth to six daughters, Joanna had yet to produce the much-anticipated male heir who would ensure the continuity of the house. In 1577, Philip was finally born. The sickly child died before his fifth birthday. Bianca’s situation was no better than Francesco’s. Her husband, realizing the Grand Duke’s interest in his wife, took advantage of the situation by asking for favors and positions, which Francesco did not refuse. Bonaventuri had become a nuisance to the prince and unfaithful to Bianca. The poor Venetian endured many sorrows. Her relationships with her family were severed, her husband flitted from one love affair to another, and Francesco I was forced to divide his time between court duties, fatherhood, and marriage.
Joanna was also unhappy in her marriage. Jealousy of Bianca consumed her, further distancing her from her husband. One day in 1578, as she was leaving the Church of the Santissima Annunziata, she fell. This incident led to her death. Pietro Bonaventuri’s death was more brutal. His dissolute life had made him unpopular with many in the city, especially the husbands of the women he often entertained. He died in 1572, mysteriously assassinated as he left the house of one of his lovers. Some thought Francesco commissioned the murder, but it was more likely the revenge of a relative of one of the women he frequented.
After Joanna’s death, things changed significantly. A few months after her death, the two lovers retreated to the Villa di Pratolino and, on May 5, 1578, secretly married. The marriage was kept unrevealed until April 1579, when it was made official, and Bianca was given the title of Grand Duchess. This marriage completely restored relations with her family in Venice.
In October 1587, Bianca and Francesco were at the Villa di Poggio a Caiano. They decided to invite Francesco’s brother, Cardinal Ferdinando, to ease the tensions caused by the marriage to Bianca. A few days later, Francesco fell suddenly ill. His condition worsened during the night after a dinner with his wife. It is said that on October 10, 1587, fever and pains were so severe that a doctor was called. A few hours later, Bianca also began experiencing the same pains. Written testimonies from those present show no concern: Francesco and Bianca were dying in excruciating pain, each in their own room. The couple was denied any news of each other. In his last moments, Francesco called for his brother and asked him to take care of his son with Bianca, Don Antonio. The couple died after nearly ten days of suffering. Francesco’s funeral was held with great pomp in the Church of San Lorenzo. As for his sister-in-law, Ferdinando did not allow a public funeral. Her body was taken to San Lorenzo at night and placed in an “untraceable” location. Even today, centuries later, the exact location of her burial is still being sought.
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