Dante said he first met Beatrice Portinari , daughter of Folco Portinari , at age nine , and claimed to have fallen in love with her `` at first sight , '' apparently without even talking with her .
According to his work , La Vita Nuova , when he was nine years old he met Beatrice Portinari , daughter of Folco Portinari , with whom he fell in love `` at first sight '' , and apparently without even having spoken to her .