Her parents, William Edward Nightingale and his wife Frances Smith, were touring Europe for the first two years of their marriage. Nightingale's elder sister had been born in Naples the year before.
Ang kanyang mga magulang, William Edward ruwisenyor at kanyang asawa Frances Smith, ay panlalakbay Europa para sa unang dalawang taon ng kanilang kasal. Ruwisenyor's ate had been ipinanganak sa Naples ang taon bago.