Not all Italian women are celebrated simply for their cleavage or for their ability to make a big, comforting Sunday dinner. While headlines, lately at least, have portrayed Italian women as scantily clad "veline" personalities on television, paid escorts, or teen models attending Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's parties, the country has a rich history of women bucking stereotypes and taking on the establishment in many different arenas. Here's just a sampling of some of Italy's most notable women of influence from the past to the present, including Isabella Rossellini, left.
