Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily

At the table

Simple and Shared Meals

Families practiced extreme modesty and sobriety, with husband and wife often eating from the same dish and drinking from the same cup. Their basic diet was primarily composed of bread, fruit, jam, and herbs.

What people wore

Coral jewelry for festive occasions

On feast days, ordinary women often adorned themselves with coral jewelry, which was meticulously categorized into fourteen different shades, ranging from blood-red to black. This industry was so significant that it drew the interest of foreign travelers who observed the detailed production process in Livorno.

Getting around

Walking or riding donkeys for travel

Ordinary people typically traveled to work in fields on foot or by using donkeys, as there were no roads in many rural areas.

What it cost

Price of butcher's meat

Butcher's meat in Nice generally sold for 3 sols per pound, though the local pound was only twelve ounces.

Music

Pietro Nardini, master violinist

The violinist Pietro Nardini was the leading instrumentalist in Florence, known for performing violin concertos and chamber music at court.

Daily life

Peasant Cooking and Meals

Peasant families frequently cooked large pots of vegetable soup, especially on Fridays when meat was avoided. Leftovers were repurposed by reboiling the soup in a pan with bread on subsequent days.