Maria was the daughter of a soldier. As a child, Mary had shown no obvious scholastic inclination. Maria studied medicine and was the first Italian woman to qualify under modern rules as a doctor. During her student days, Maria developed into a staunch feminist. Maria became Assistant Doctor at the Psychiatric Clinic in the University of Rome, and it was here that she came into contact with the mentally deficient adults and children. Maria expressed the view that these children were entitled to be educated (1899) and this led to her appointment as Director of a State Orthophrenic School. Maria achieved results - the children began to read and write.

Maria was then given the opportunity to work with "normal" children who needed care whilst their parents worked (1906). Maria designed teaching aids that allowed the child more freedom within the classroom, which allowed for more spontaneous learning led by the child (Maria herself had quite a strictly disciplined upbringing). Maria's success was acclaimed and gained her worldwide recognition as her ideas spread. Maria's lectures were attended from people worldwide, and her "disciples" moved throughout Europe and American spreading her work. Maria visited Europe herself (1914), and was constantly writing and developing ideas to cope with the demands of older children.

Maria became Italy's Inspector of Schools (1922), and lectured ceaselessly and constantly sophisticated her methods to keep pace with the new discoveries and social changes. Maria spent much of the last ten years of her life on the Indian sub-continent, where even during wartime, when considered an "enemy", she was accorded special freedom to continue her work. After the war, Maria returned to Italy to re-establish the Montessori organisation which had been suppressed by the fascists. Maria travelled and worked almost ceaselessly till her death, aged 81yo.

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