Marfisa d'Este
Marfisa d'Este was a Ferrarese noblewoman born around 1554 in Ferrara and died on 16 October 1608 in Ferrara. She was the illegitimate daughter of Francesco d'Este and Maria Folch de Cardona, and her sister Bradamante (born 1559) was legitimised along with her by Pope Gregory XIII and Alfonso II d'Este. She was known as a patron of the arts and as the protector of the poet Torquato Tasso.
On 5 May 1578 she married her cousin Alfonsino di Montecchio, son of Alfonso di Montecchio, who died less than four months after the wedding. In 1578 her father left her a palace, the Palazzina Marfisa d'Este, begun in 1559; this palace was later largely abandoned after her death. She also inherited the San Silvestro building and Palazzo Schifanoia.
On 30 January 1580 she married Alderano Cybo-Malaspina, heir to the Principality of Massa and Carrara. After Ferrara became part of the Papal States in 1598, because there were no legitimate male heirs of the Este family, Marfisa chose to stay in Ferrara with Alderano rather than move to Modena. They lived in the inherited palace, and they had eight children.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:18 (CET).