The Guastallines are members of the College of Guastalla, a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

congregation for women, founded in Milan.

History

The widowed

Ludovica Torelli Ludovica Torelli (26 September 1500 – 28 October 1569) was ruling Countess of Guastalla in 1522–1539. A philanthropist, she was instrumental in the founding of two religious institutes for woman: the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul and the Guasta ...

, Countess of

Guastalla Guastalla ( Guastallese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Geography Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River. Guastalla is located at around from the citi ...

, resolved to devote her life to works of charity. The

County of Guastalla The County of Guastalla () was an Italian state, centered on the city of Guastalla in Northern Italy, which existed from 1428 to 1621, when it was then elevated to a Duchy. History The title of count was conferred in 1428 on Guido Torelli f ...

, which she had inherited from her father, was laid claim to by another branch of the family, and the affair carried before

Pope Clement VIII Pope Clement VIII (; ; 24 February 1536 – 3 March 1605), born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 30 January 1592 to his death in March 1605. Born in Fano, Papal States to a prominen ...

and

Emperor Charles V Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) fr ...

, whereupon she settled the matter by selling her estates to Ferrante Gonzaga, thereby also increasing her resources for the religious foundations she had in mind.Rudge, F.M. "Guastallines." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 23 September 2022

''Collegio della Guastalla''

The ''Collegio della Guastalla'' is one of the oldest European educational institutions, founded in Milan in 1557 by Paola Ludovica Torelli, Countess of Guastalla. In 1536, Torelli established the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul, a congregation of women to assist the Barnabites, Barnabite fathers in the missions. With other Angelicals she accompanied the Barnabites, working among women, and the sick. When Pope Paul IV imposed the rule of cloister on the Angelicals, whom their foundress had destined for works of active charity, particularly the care of the sick and orphans, in 1557 she instituted another community, also at Milan, for whom she built a house between the Roman and the Tosa gate, known as the Collegio della Guastalla. Like the Angelicals, they were under the direction of the Barnabites. The members, known as Daughters of Mary, dedicated themselves to the care of orphans of noble families, eighteen being provided for in the endowment. The orphans, appointed by prominent Milanese, who eventually became administrators of the institute, could remain for twelve years, after which they were free either to return to the world, or remain as religious, receiving in the former instance a dowry of 2000 lire. After the death of the foundress, Pope Urban VIII, at the instance of St. Charles Borromeo, enclosed the community. The sisters lived as religious, observing definite hours for prayer, silence, and work, but took no solemn vows. From 1938 the College moved to San Fruttuoso di Monza, placing its headquarters in Villa Barbò Pallavicini, a prestigious neoclassical building with a large park, a patrician residence built in 1815. Then used as a farmhouse, it underwent extensive renovations. Furnishings, paintings, and historical archives were transferred from Milan. The foundress' remains were brought from the San Fedele, Milan, Church of San Fedele to the new chapel.Valli, Elena. "La Contessa di Guastalla - Scopriamo la Storia di Ludovica Torell", Castelli del Ducato
/ref> The institution has adapted over time to changing educational needs. Today, after nearly five centuries, the College of Guastalla welcomes student of all grades, from the two-year nursery program to high school."La Storia", Collegio Guastalla
/ref> The original palace, built near the Naviglio canal, which at the time flowed in Via Francesco Sforza, was equipped with a large park: this is today the "Giardino della Guastalla", the oldest park in Milan.

References

External links

Collegio Fuastalla website
{{portal bar, Catholicism, History, Italy Catholic female orders and societies Charles Borromeo