Lucrezia Galletta

Lucrezia Galletta (1520s – 1580), (also Lucretia Galletta), known as "la Luparella", was a wealthy courtesan and banker in 16th century Rome.

Lucrezia Galletta was born in the city of Bologne, somewhere between the years of 1520-1525. She was able to retire with a fortune in 1559, and thereafter had herself erased from the list of courtesans and engaged in business as a banker. This undertaking may have been aided by the fact that her lover, Francesco Spinelli, was a banker, though later on he fled, stealing money from his employers, and left her in a tight spot. Her will included donations and provisions to assist poor young women in need of dowries.