Prince Vittorio Amedeo Theodore of Savoy

Getting around

Slow and difficult carriage travel

Travel by carriage was complex and often slow, requiring constant stops for harness repairs or because road conditions created deep ruts and hollows.

At the table

Drinking frugal wine substitutes

To save money, families often drank low-alcohol beverages like acquerello or mezzone instead of pure wine, which was largely sold for profit.

What people wore

Poor citizens wore cheap cloth slippers

In 18th-century Modena, the poor frequently wore cloth slippers, which were extremely cheap and easily made from scrap materials.

Music

The Zapato Gift Festival

The zapato was a specialized court festival held around Saint Nicholas Day, centered on the tradition of exchanging gifts.

Daily life

Washing and water access in rural homes

Rural kitchens lacked modern sinks, so dishes were washed outside in the courtyard or under a porch using buckets and basins. Water was often drawn from a well located under the porch, where it was also used to water livestock.