Maria Luisa of Savoy

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

Everyday peasant clothing

Simple peasants wore sturdy, locally-made garments of brown or white wool and stiff cloth for everyday tasks.

Getting around

Traveling on foot was most common

For most people, traveling on foot remained the most common way to move between towns in the 17th century.

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

Hunting horns in religious and public life

Hunting horns were used for communication and public celebration, with performances traditionally occurring during mass on Saint Hubert's Feast Day. This ancient sound helped connect the congregation and audience to nature during these open-air events.

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.