Lucia Migliaccio was born into one of the very first families of Syracuse, on 18 January 1770, to Vincenzo Migliaccio, the duke of Floridia, and Dorotea Borgia e Rau, a Marquess. The premature death of her father and brother, Ignatius, meant she was the only heir of the family so at just 5 years old, was titled 10th Duchess of Floridia and Baroness of Cavalera. Her story became entwined with a much bigger one. She married Ferdinand 1st of Bourbon, King of the Two Sicilies, who lived, albeit indirectly, through historical events that upset Italy between 1814 and 1826.
Lucia Migliaccio was a woman of rare virtue, so beautiful she inspired great artists including Camuccini and Berger, poets (Meli), sculptors and ceramists of the time (Lucia was portrayed in the cameos and in vessels of Capodimonte).ย She chose the teachers of Floridia, gave money to poor farmers and interceded so that the stewardship was entrusted to Syracuse. Lucia, the last Duchess of Floridia, “had the sole fortune of being born daughter of a Duke, became wife of a Prince and died consort of a King”.
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