at the age of five he was sent to a family in villafranca, where he could receive an education. in 1829, at 11 years old, he attended a seminary in palermo, where he studied classical subjects. the rector of the institute was giuseppe crispi, his uncle. crispi attended the seminary until 1834 or 1835, when his father, after becoming mayor of ribera, encountered major difficulties in health and finances.