The Roman courtesan Julia da Gallese (1529–1565); her life and fortune.

Julia became a courtesan in Rome in 1544 when 15 years old. The expenses of her new career were paid by the nobleman Giovanni Francesco Pallavicino, to whom she remained attached for the rest of her life. Julia’s papers, now in the archive of the Biblioteca Corsiniana, allowing a minute reconstruction of her career and life. By the time she died, aged 36 years, she was a wealthy property owner in Piazza di Monte d’Oro. The Roman street Via Giulia di Gallese has her name because of the munificent bequest she made in her testament of 1565 to the Hospital of San Giacomo degli Incurabili.