Renaissance Florence was a center of extraordinary innovation, but medicine and science remained deeply intertwined with tradition, experimentation, and suspicion. Author and scientist Gigi Berardi explores the world behind Bianca’s Cure, examining women’s roles in scientific and medical history, the search for treatments for diseases such as malaria, and the mysteries surrounding Bianca Cappello and Francesco de’ Medici.
Key Topics
- Medicine and scientific knowledge in Renaissance Florence
- Women’s overlooked contributions to science and healing
- Bianca Cappello and Francesco de’ Medici
- Malaria and the historical search for effective treatments
- Artemisia, traditional medicine, and scientific discovery
- The intersection of medicine, politics, and power
- Using historical fiction to explore gaps in the historical record
Guest Bio
Gigi Berardi is an author, scientist, Fulbright scholar, and professor at Western Washington University who also teaches in Florence. With a background spanning biology, planning, and the arts, she is the author of Finding Balance, FoodWISE, and Bianca’s Cure, which draws on the history of science and medicine in Renaissance Florence.
Biance’s Cure
Bookshop: Paperback | Ebook
Books Mentioned
Daughters of Alchemy by Meredith Ray: Amazon Hardcover | Kindle
The Only Woman in the Room: A Novel by Marie Benedict: Bookshop Paperback
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell: Bookshop Paperback | Ebook
Connect with Gigi: Website | X | Instagram
Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn
Listen on YouTube: Channel