The Journey Begins
During my years as a teacher, Women’s History Month was an important event and I always made sure to dedicate my lessons to inspirational women. I would search for texts in the target language about Serena Williams, Malala Yousafzai, Rigoberta Menchú, Frida Kahlo, Artemisia Gentileschi, Maria Montessori, and many others. Their stories weren’t just about success; they were about resilience, determination, and breaking barriers. They provided mirrors for my students to see themselves reflected and windows to worlds they might not otherwise explore.
Even though I no longer teach in a classroom, I find myself drawn to the same mission – seeking out and sharing women’s stories. And here, in Liguria, walking its trails and wandering its streets, I have discovered so many stories of women who have shaped the region. Some are well-known, others are almost forgotten, but all of them deserve to be told.
Women of Liguria
Mater Naturae – A Symbol of Women and the Earth
Nestled on the rocky cliffs above Lord Byron’s Grotto in Porto Venere, the bronze statue of Mater Naturae gazes out over the sea of the Eastern Ligurian Riviera.
This figure blends strength and serenity, embodying the best attributes of mothering, nurturing, and abundance.
Despite the exposed, windswept position, she appears contemplative and infinitely patient – qualities often associated with women and their relationship to nature.
The statue was created in tribute to Porto Venere as a quiet homage to the timeless bond between women and the land. Mater Naturae feels like a guardian spirit of the coast, reminding us of the silent, committed work that women have done for centuries to care for both people and the environment.
Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi – The Botanist Who Cultivated Knowledge
In the 18th century, at a time when scientific pursuits were largely reserved for men, Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi made her mark as a pioneering botanist. Born into one of the wealthiest families in the then city-state of Genoa, Clelia was the daughter of a patron of the arts and the granddaughter of Ippolito Durazzo, Genoa’s first botanist. At the age of 34, she dedicated part of her husband’s magnificent villa to the creation of two state-of-the-art heated greenhouses, where she began collecting rare and exotic plants from around the world. She carefully catalogued these species, publishing a detailed account in 1812.
Clelia’s herbarium, containing over 5,000 species, is well-preserved at the Civico Museo di Storia Naturale “G. Doria,” where her elegant and determined handwriting reveals her passion and expertise. Her courageous challenge to the male-dominated scientific community of her time makes Clelia an extraordinary figure, symbolising curiosity, Enlightenment ideals, intelligence, and emancipation.
Her legacy lives on in the botanical gardens of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, a place she nurtured to explore the delicate balance between species, climate, and soil – a topic that resonates even more in today’s world. The gardens serve as a bridge between two centuries of research and the conservation of rare, curious, and wonderful specimens, reminding us that knowledge, like plants, must be cultivated and shared.
The Slate Carriers of Lavagna – Women of Strength
In Liguria, the rugged cliffs and shimmering sea hide another defining feature – slate, “ardesia” or “lavagna“, a stone quarried for centuries. Women, known as Lavagnine or Camalle, played a crucial role in transporting heavy slabs of slate, some weighing up to 60 kilos. Barefoot or in simple shoes, they navigated steep, uneven paths, making multiple daily trips between the quarries and the valley. Their vital contributions to the region’s economy have often been overlooked.
Slate was the primary source of paid work for generations, though it was only the quarry-owning families who profited. The Lavagnine carried slabs on their heads, using a headband to stabilise the load. To manage larger pieces, they worked in groups, displaying remarkable skill and coordination, especially on difficult terrain. Many women also walked barefoot for better grip and sensitivity to the ground.
Along their routes, small resting spots called “pose” offered brief respite, where the women could rest and drink from springs. They often spun wool or carried meals for the men working in the quarries, and on the descent, they sang to ease the burden, much like rice harvesters in the fields.
Starting as young as 15, the Lavagnine carried increasingly heavier loads, and only in exceptional cases would men assist with the largest slate slabs. Once collected, the slate was transferred to ships, as the region’s lack of land routes meant maritime transport was essential.
These women were not just workers; they were essential pillars of Liguria’s slate trade; their strength, resilience, and resourcefulness are embedded in the very landscape they traversed.
Beyond Liguria: Women Who Inspire
While Liguria’s history is filled with remarkable women, my inspirations are not limited by geography. There are women across the world whose stories resonate deeply, who remind me that resilience and courage transcend borders. Living abroad and studying different cultures opened my eyes to how women everywhere show incredible determination and courage, and through my involvement in the fair trade co-op, I gained a deeper sense of how these qualities are alive in communities around the world, with women leading change and empowering those around them, making a real difference every day.
The Cholitas Escaladoras – Reclaiming the Mountains
In the Andes of Bolivia, a group of indigenous Aymara women is redefining what it means to be a mountaineer. Known as the Cholitas Escaladoras, they climb some of the highest peaks in South America wearing their traditional pollera skirts. For years, Aymara women were expected to work as cooks or porters for climbing expeditions, but never as climbers themselves. That changed when a group of them decided they would no longer stay at the base of the mountains – they would summit them.
Their story is one of reclaiming space, of challenging expectations, and of proving that identity and tradition can coexist with ambition. They remind me of the slate carriers of Lavagna – women who carried not only heavy loads, but also the weight of societal expectations, yet kept moving forward with determination.
Vandana Shiva – A Voice for Ecofeminism
Few voices have been as influential in the fight for environmental justice as Vandana Shiva. A physicist turned eco-activist, she has spent decades advocating for biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, and the rights of small farmers – especially women.
Her work highlights how environmental destruction is deeply connected to gender and social inequality. Women, particularly in rural areas, are often the first to bear the consequences of deforestation, soil depletion, and industrial farming. But they are also the ones leading the fight to protect natural resources.
Shiva’s activism feels especially relevant in a region like Liguria, where the delicate balance between human activity and the environment is constantly at play. Her message is clear: the future of the planet depends on the voices of women.
Reflections on the Streets of Liguria
As I think about all these women – those from Liguria and those from afar – I can’t help but notice something when walking through its cities and villages. Street names. Or rather, the lack of women’s names among them.
There are exceptions. In Genoa, some of my favourite spots are named after remarkable women, like Anita Garibaldi, the revolutionary who fought for Brazil’s independence, and Lina Volonghi, a brilliant actress who left a mark on Italian theatre, but who was also a swimming champion and socially engaged woman in her younger days.
But overall, the absence of women in street names is striking. Mapping Diversity, a platform dedicated to exploring the diversity of street names across Europe, highlights how street names often fail to represent the many women who have shaped our cities and societies. According to the website, more than 90% of streets named after individuals across Europe are dedicated to white men. This lack of representation speaks volumes about our past and the ongoing need for change.
This is why it’s so important to tell these stories – to write them down, to speak them out loud, to make sure they are not forgotten. Women have shaped the past, they are shaping the present, and they will continue to shape the future.
Some walked barefoot with slate on their backs. Some nurtured gardens of knowledge. Some climbed mountains in defiance of expectations. Some fought for the land and the people who depend on it.
All of them walked far. And their footsteps echo in every path we take today, reminding us that the journey towards equality and justice is ongoing, especially as we face rising challenges to the values they fought for.
Who are the women that inspire you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Whether it’s a woman from history or a story that deserves to be shared – let’s keep these voices alive and continue to celebrate them together.