Cosimo II de' Medici

What people wore

Ordinary People Wore Fashionable Silk Garments

Ordinary people, including shoemakers and tailors, often wore fashionable items like silk breeches, velvet berets, and garments decorated with silk ribbons, sometimes defying strict sumptuary laws.

Daily life

Languages used in everyday life

Franco-Provencal was the language of everyday activities and family life for most people, while French was used by the highest classes.

News and letters

Price of sending private letters

Private letters could be sent for 7-9 Milanese soldi per ounce, a price comparable to the cost of buying three or four loaves of bread.

Music

The Popular Pavane Dance

The solemn, slow-moving pavane was a popular dance used by nobles for grand entries and festivities, often accompanied by drums, oboes, trombones, and violins.

What it cost

Strict grain purchase limits during famine

During the famine of 1590–1593, daily purchases were restricted by law to prevent speculation; for instance, deals involving more than 4.7 kg of grain were strictly prohibited.

Getting around

Daily travel distances varied significantly

Travelers generally covered between 20 and 40 kilometers per day, though this varied greatly depending on terrain, weather, and the individual's social status.

Work

Common trades and dual employment

Common jobs included construction workers like masons, stonecutters, and carpenters, as well as domestic servants and daily laborers working in trades, commerce, or agriculture. Urban residents often pursued a double activity, maintaining small plots of land near the city alongside their main trade.