Alessandra Grazia della Scalla

The persona story of Porzia della Scala

My name is Porzia della Scala.

I was born in luxury in Florence in the year of our lord 1532. My mother Pasqualina, youngest daughter of condottiere Pasqual Manolosso, spent many year within the court of Florence as the head lady of Eleonora di Toledo's personal weavers. She was very skilled at weaving gold and silver for her mistress's gowns. She was married to my father, Giuseppe della Scala while living in Florence. Giuseppe had been a condottiere under Manolosso in his youth. Pasqual was the one that suggested the marriage of his daughter to Guiseppe. Upon his marriage he was released from service he became the Duke's Chief Mathematician, and due to his background as a condottiere, his knowledge in military strategy earned him a coveted position as one of the Duke's personal adviser.

When Duke Alessandro de' Medici was assassinated, Cosimo I kept my father as Chief Mathematician for many years. The wonderful thing about political intrigue is that the pawns never know what the royalty are working towards. This being said, shortly after Francesco Donato was elected Doge in Venice, my Father was rewarded for his years of loyal service to the Duke and was given land in one of the most prized republics of all of Italy, Venice. He was sent with his credentials and came highly recommended to the Doge by the Duke.

We moved to Venice in February of 1546. I was a young woman and I remember those first few days in our new city with affection. We lived just down from the Rialto. I would look out the window at the sea of people and just watch the activity for hours. The canals and their gondoliers softly floating by were always a thing to watch. If only I'd been warned how much my little world would change. In 1548 Cosimo I had his relative Lorenzino, the last Medici claimant to Florence, assassinated in Venice.

That was the beginning of the end for my family. My father was accused of being a spy for Cosimo. I even heard whispers that my father had been a part of his murder. But my father's patron, the Doge, protected us. He and my father had become fast friends and we relied on that friendship. We then moved to the Doge's Palace. Our family home rented and left to the care of a young doctor. What wonders were contained within. While there I have learned many wondrous things. I have been taught Astronomy and biblical tales. I have often spent the afternoon with the Doge conversing in the languages of German, Spanish and English. He has even taught me to read from the bible in Latin.

Doge Donato had often become ill as of late. In the summer of 1551 my father had been sitting with the Doge for many long weeks, keeping him company while the great holy man lay in bed, ill. It was as though he took the illness from the Doge into himself. The physician said it was his love for the Doge that took him from us. When he died my mother explained our situation to me. We'd been living within the Doge's palace for so long I couldn't remember what life was like in Florence and returning to it without Papa scared me.

Being that I was an only child and my father died without producing a male heir, my mother and I were facing poverty and possible ruin. I sought out the Doge for his advice. He suggested the life of a courtesan for me. He honored me by saying that I was too wise and talented to be reduced to marriage and too lovely and precocious to be sent off to the nuns. It seemed as though I had been groomed for the role. I had been at the parties in the palace and had been raised in a good fashion. I had education, good contacts and a fast wit. The Doge's mistress, my mother and the good Doge Donato himself all contributed to my education as a Courtesan. I am now one of the most desired courtesans in Venice and the one that provides for my mother and our home. We have returned to the family home given to us by Duke Cosimo, but we have made some changes. The young doctor that was renting the home is now my employee. I have taken him on as my personal physician. It also helps circumvent the law to have a handsome man about to play the role of older brother, suitor or husband.

As for my mother, she keeps the house and staff. We have also taken on a cook, a few maids, a musician and a dressmaker. For myself I have spoiled myself with luxurious furnishings and tapestries. My gowns are the newest fashions and the envy of all the noblewomen. I have been given many gifts over the last few years by my patrons and I am most proud of my beautiful peafowl and the couple dogs. I often sit in my sitting room, looking out the window at the ships off in the distance and, looking back at my life, am amazed at how it has changed. From my noble life in Florence to my lavish life in Venice.