In the year we've spent trying to explain what makes Tuscany so special, we haven't talked as much as we should have about the fairer half of the world, the extraordinarily complex people that make our lives worth living. Tuscan women, as far as we're concerned, are really one of a kind. You would have to travel far and wide in order to find people so able to effortlessly combine so many diverse and confounding traits. Don't be fooled by their gentle manners or good nature: they're as dangerous as they come. Need some proof to this extraordinary claim? Happy to oblige. What about the 16 year old girl from Maremma that was kidnapped by pirates, sold as a slave in Constantinople and was still able to buy back her freedom and convince the most eligible bachelor on the planet to marry her? How's that for a comeback story? Follow us as we tell you the amazing tale of Margherita Marsili, the noblewoman from Siena who went from just a girl in the harem to the only wife of Suleyman the Magnificent, the most powerful emperor in Ottoman history. Her incredible story of resilience and courage is only made even more special by the fact that not many experts, outside of Tuscany, seem to recognise that she was indeed born around here. The story, the legend and the proof of her Tuscan heritage in this week's episode of our podcast, available pretty much everywhere. Let us know what you think about this kind of content, if you like it or if you'd prefer we spend more time talking about art, culture, hidden corners of our region or travel tips. Every feedback is greatly appreciated, as always:
Email: podcast@larno.it
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Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://goffredoademollovalle.blogspot.com/2017/02/roxelana-ovvero-margherita-marsili-una.html
https://www.ilgiunco.net/2021/05/30/chicche-di-maremma-la-leggenda-della-bella-marsilia/
https://www.paginecuriose.it/2020/03/01/la-bella-marsilia-dalla-maremma-al-sultano/
http://www.scopriresiena.it/la-leggenda-di-rossellana-tra-siena-e-loriente/
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torre_della_Bella_Marsilia
http://perstorie-eieten.blogspot.com/2011/02/margherita-marsili-la-rossellana.html
https://www.sienanews.it/cultura/il-viso-dangelo-della-bella-marsilia/
https://www.maremmans.it/2020/la-bella-marsilia-in-viaggio-tra-maremma-e-istanbul-2/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Fortress (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Almost Time (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Ignite to Light (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Gemini (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Mastered
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-fortress-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-almost-time-instrumental-creative-commons
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-ignite-to-light-creative-commons-instrumental
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Pipe_Choir/SGONS_Instrumentals/Pipe_Gemini_Instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/