Guglielmo Gonzaga

Getting around

River transport between Florence and Pisa

Travel by river between Florence and Pisa took at least two days under optimal conditions, often relying on wind, poles, or being towed from the bank by men and animals. Boats were frequently stopped by tolls, weather, or natural obstacles like weirs.

Daily life

Amenities and sleeping arrangements in homes

Wealthy Florentine homes featured private wells for water and used fireplaces for heat, while tapestries were hung on walls to provide insulation. Several people often shared a single large bed for sleeping.

What people wore

The trend of men wearing beards

While once clean-shaven faces were common, by the mid-sixteenth century, about ninety-five out of every hundred Florentine men adopted the trend of wearing beards, which was considered more masculine. Those who chose to remain clean-shaven were often mocked as old-fashioned and labeled with the derisive term zazzeroni.

Music

Recycling popular tunes for religious hymns

Popular Carnival melodies were often recycled for religious use as hymns through a process called contrafacture, allowing people to sing spiritual texts to familiar tunes.

At the table

Meat as a rare treat

When a pig was slaughtered, it was customary for neighbors to share blood sausage as a gesture of friendship and good luck. Meat was otherwise rarely consumed by the poor, reserved primarily for special occasions like holidays.