Costanza d'Avalos, Duchess of Francavilla

[1] Later that year, she defended Ischia against the French for four consecutive months, with great skill and bravery.

On 13 June 1507, she signed a marriage contract between her nephew Fernando Francesco d'Ávalos and Vittoria Colonna.

On Ischia, Costanza established a circle of literary friends around her, among which were the poet Vittoria Colonna, the wife of her nephew, Sannazaro, Paolo Giovio, Tansillo and Bernardo Tasso.

[4] She also became a follower of Juan de Valdés and attended his lectures and discussions at his house in Chiaia.

Scholarly as well as amateur speculation has assigned the Mona Lisa's name to Costanza (among other women) - she was referred to as La Gioconda.