Alfonso d'Este

Getting around

Changing transport for mountain crossings

Traveling through the Alps meant changing modes of transport, as carriages could not cross the mountain passes; travelers often had to switch to mules or litters.

At the table

Bread as the common staple food

While nobles enjoyed refined breads, the main daily food for common people was bread made from grain, often in the form of simple, rustic focaccias.

What people wore

Functional button decor

Men's coat sleeves were decorated with three vertical buttons, a feature originally intended to prevent lower-class soldiers from wiping their noses or faces on their sleeves.

Music

The Zapato Gift Festival

The zapato was a specialized court festival held around Saint Nicholas Day, centered on the tradition of exchanging gifts.

Daily life

Education and work for poor children

Religious institutions, such as the local poorhouse, provided basic education for children, which included lessons in reading and writing alongside rigorous work schedules and religious observance. Many children also learned trades by working in city workshops or spinning mills under the guidance of older laborers.