Franca Pilla
First Lady of Italy from 1999 to 2006 (born 1920)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Franca Pilla (born 18 December 1920), sometimes known as Franca Ciampi, is a former first lady of Italy, serving during the presidency of her husband, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. She is the oldest living former first lady in the world.
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Franca Pilla | |
|---|---|
Pilla in 2000 | |
| Companion of the President of Italy | |
| In role 18 May 1999 – 15 May 2006 | |
| President | Carlo Azeglio Ciampi |
| Preceded by | Marianna Scalfaro |
| Succeeded by | Clio Maria Bittoni |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 December 1920 Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Kingdom of Italy |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Scuola Normale Superiore | |
| Profession | Teacher |
Biography
Pilla was born in Reggio Emilia on 18 December 1920. At the age of 18, she met her future husband, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa. They met at a "dancing tea" which at the time was a respectable way for youth to meet. The tea was organised by mothers, and boys and girls would be allowed to practise dancing with each other.[1]
Following one year of engagement since the end of World War II, in which Ciampi had been a soldier and then a resistance fighter, Pilla married him in Bologna in 1946. They spent over seventy years together[2] during which time her husband was prime minister, director and governor of Italy's central bank, minister of finance, and other positions, and later president; he died on 16 September 2016.[3]
During a tour of Naples, in the south of Italy, she was quoted as saying that the Italians in the South were better and more intelligent.[2] She was known for her openness, giving the pope advice when they met and encouraging people to read and to ignore the TV.[2]
Pilla turned 100 on 18 December 2020.[4] As of 2026,[update] at the age of 105, she is the oldest living former first lady in the world,[5] following the death of Catherine M'ba, widow of Léon M'ba of Gabon, in November 2025.[6]
