James Francis Edward Stuart, Prince of Wales

At the table

Simple Daily Meals and Rare Meat

For many ordinary people, the daily meal was simple and focused on survival, often consisting of dark bread, wine, and soups made with vegetables like cabbage, turnips, or onions. Meat was a rare luxury, eaten mostly during festivals or when money allowed.

What people wore

Feast day attire

For feast days and Sundays, people increasingly wore finer, brightly colored fabrics that were imported rather than produced in the village.

Getting around

Mountain travel and daily distances

Alpine crossings required switching to mules or porters because carriage roads often ended at the base of the mountains. Travelers covering long distances usually managed about 20 to 40 kilometers per day.

What it cost

Daily wages and food costs in Turin

Ordinary workers in Turin earned daily wages of just a few dozen soldi, making a single measure of wheat cost as much as six to ten days of labor during price spikes.

Music

Hurdy-gurdy as a popular folk instrument

The hurdy-gurdy was a common instrument used by ordinary people for centuries to accompany singing, dancing, and popular entertainment. It was also famously associated with Savoyard street performers and children who traveled across Europe with their music and puppets.

Daily life

Education and social life

While public education systems were introduced by 1661, daily social interaction for the rural population primarily took place in stables during the evening, which served as a shared space for work and exchange.