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Archduchess Maria Luisa of Austria

Florence, 31 Oct 1845 – Hanau, 27 Aug 1917

9 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 31 Oct 1845

    Born in Florence

  2. 27 Aug 1917

    Dies in Hanau, aged 71

Family

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Parents

During her lifetime

She lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Florence.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1840s · Archduchess is born in Florence

In the news1847–1848

First telegraph line established in 1847

The first Italian telegraph line connecting Florence, Pisa, and Livorno was established in 1847. This technology represented a major leap in communication speed across the region.

What people wore

Sorrento women's feast day attire

On feast days, peasant women in Sorrento wore bodices of damask with braided trim, styled their hair in a Chinese fashion, and wore a special pin called a spadella with a ribbon hanging down their necks.

Daily life

Peasant homes in Fardella

Peasant homes in Fardella typically consisted of a ground floor for stables and storage, and a single first-floor room where families cooked, ate, and slept; they lacked both drinking water and electricity.

In the news1842

First seaside medical hostel opens in 1842

In 1842, a seaside hostel was opened in Viareggio, Tuscany, specifically for treating children suffering from tuberculosis. This was the first facility of its kind in Italy, marking an early attempt at marine therapy.

Music

The expressive tarantella dance

The tarantella was a beloved dance characterized by expressive, flirtatious movements between partners, often performed during festivals and social gatherings. It was considered a deeply emotional, poetic performance that captivated spectators with its dramatic gestures.

In Europe1845–1852

The Great Famine in Ireland

Potato blight ruined harvests: a million Irish people died and a million more emigrated, many to America.

Getting around

Climbing Mount Etna by horse and carriage

To climb Mount Etna, travelers would depart Catania by carriage for Nicolosi, then ride horses to the Casa degli inglesi, arriving at midnight. From there, they trekked 1.5 hours before dawn to reach the summit to witness the sunrise.