Born in Parma to Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and his wife, Donna Margherita Aldobrandini, she was the couple’s sixth child and second daughter.

Her older brother Odoardo Farnese was later the Duke of Parma.

She was engaged to Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena, son of the defunct Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena and Princess Isabella of Savoy.

She married Francesco on 11 January 1631 in Parma; the marriage produced nine children, three of which went on to have progeny.

Her husband married again twice, firstly to her sister Vittoria Farnese in 1648 and then to Lucrezia Barberini who was the mother of Rinaldo d'Este, Duke of Modena.