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Livia (Paola) Gonzaga (August 1508 in Mantua – 11 April 1569 in Mantua) was a Mantuan noblewoman.
Born Livia Osanna Gonzaga, she was the daughter ofFrancesco II Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua and Isabella d'Este, daughter of Ercole I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara; and named after an earlier Livia, born in 1503, who died very young.[1] One of her older brothers was CardinalErcole Gonzaga; her sister Ippolita became aDominican nun. She was the sister-in-law ofMargherita Paleologa, who married Livia's older brotherFederico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua,[2] and the niece of CardinalIppolito d'Este.
At the age of three years, she was given to the nuns of the convent of Santa Paula in Mantua to be educated. Ten years later she took the monastic habit of thePoor Clares and five years later took vows with the name of Sister Paola.[3] She also became abbess of the convent. She spent her life in the monastery built by Paola Malatesta, wife ofGian Francesco Gonzaga and was also visited by theEmperor Charles V. She was buried in the Church of Santa Paula.