In the news1562
Capital moved to Turin
The capital of the Duchy was transferred from Chambéry to Turin in 1562, leading to the eventual marginalization of the Savoyard lands.
Mantua, 17 Jan 1566 – Innsbruck, 3 Dec 1621
10 facts2 sources
17 Jan 1566
Born in Mantua
4 Oct 1585
A daughter is born
3 Dec 1621
Dies in Innsbruck, aged 55
She lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Mantua.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1562
The capital of the Duchy was transferred from Chambéry to Turin in 1562, leading to the eventual marginalization of the Savoyard lands.
Getting around
Network of roads and mule tracks
The region relied on a network of paths and roads, including the major Via Emilia that connected Parma and Piacenza, while others like the route to Spezia were mountain mule tracks. Carriageable roads existed for local travel, such as the route between Piacenza, Rivergaro, and Travi.
In the news1561
In 1561, the Duke imposed a mandatory salt tax requiring every person to purchase about 11.4 kilograms of salt annually, with the poor exempted.
Daily life
New schools and limited formal education
Duke Pier Luigi Farnese initiated the opening of numerous schools in the Duchy to teach medicine, law, and classical Greek and Latin literature. However, formal schooling remained primarily accessible to the wealthy, while peasant children were typically trained at home or through labor.
What people wore
Everyday village clothing for women
In the sixteenth-century villages of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, women's daily attire consistently included a shirt (camicia), a dress (veste), a veil, a cap (scuffia), and an apron (scossale).
Music
Choir Training at the Steccata Church
In 1565, a small seminary for twelve boys was established at the Steccata church in Parma to provide instruction in both plainchant and polyphonic singing.
At the table
Seasonal Fruits and Home-Made Salami
Families ate seasonal produce such as grapes in September, oranges in November, and various fruits like cherries, strawberries, and melons as summer approached. They also prepared for the colder months by buying spices, pepper, and salt in December, specifically to make salami.