Contarina Barbarigo (died 25 December 1804), was a famous Venetian noble. She was a controversial member of the Venetian society and frequently mentioned in the contemporary chronicles of

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

. She was the daughter of Gregorio Barbarigo and the famous

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. She married Marin Zorzi in 1765 and divorced in 1773. She had a relationship with the politician

Andrea Memmo Andrea Memmo (29 March 1729 – 27 January 1793) was a Venetian patrician and politician. Tutored by Carlo Lodoli, he was a proponent of Enlightenment values and political reform for the stagnant Republic of Venice. He is well known for his love ...

, which lasted until 1783. Contarina Barbarigo was a leading member of the Venetian aristocracy, described as charming and made such a good impression on

Emperor Joseph II Joseph II (13 March 1741 – 20 February 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 18 August 1765 and sole ruler of the Habsburg monarchy from 29 November 1780 until his death. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Emperor F ...

on his visit in 1775 that he asked to have her as his guide in his next visit in 1782, which was granted. In 1783, she was called before the Venetian Inquisition and sentenced to house arrest on her country villa for her free and liberal lifestyle, where she lived the rest of her life.

References

A Venetian Affair: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in the 18th Century, Andrea Di Robilant

Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 6 (1964)
1804 deaths Victims of the Inquisition Year of birth missing 18th-century Venetian people Contarino 18th-century Venetian women 18th-century Italian people 18th-century Italian nobility {{Italy-noble-stub