Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

At the table

The humble paniccio dish

In the Novara countryside during the 17th century, ordinary families relied on paniccio, a dish made with beans, as a staple food.

What people wore

Courtly feast day costumes featured exotic feathers

For special feast day performances at court, such as those in the 1640s, noble performers wore intricate costumes featuring exotic elements like heron feathers, which were a popular decorative motif.

Getting around

Daily Travel Distance for Alpine Travelers

Travel times were highly variable due to terrain and weather, but Alpine travelers generally covered between 20 and 40 kilometers per day on average.

What it cost

High salt costs impacted livestock economy

Salt was so expensive in the Duchy of Savoy that officials feared high prices ruined households and discouraged farmers from giving necessary portions to their cattle. This high cost of salt negatively affected milk, cheese, and meat production.

Music

Instruments at Savoy festivals

Festivals during this era featured diverse instrumental music, including lutes, flutes, and trumpets used to accompany banquets and theatrical dances.

Daily life

Village education and private school funding

At the village level, some instruction was provided by local priests, while towns paid for schoolmasters and some wealthy individuals funded private colleges to train youth.