Prince Vittorio Amedeo Theodore of Savoy

Getting around

Most common travel was on foot

For most people in the Duchy of Savoy, the most common way to travel between towns was on foot.

At the table

Drinking frugal wine substitutes

To save money, families often drank low-alcohol beverages like acquerello or mezzone instead of pure wine, which was largely sold for profit.

What people wore

Soldiers' neckcloths indicated their rank

In the Duchy of Modena, soldiers' neckcloths served as rank identifiers, with ordinary soldiers tying them at the back and corporals wearing them with the ends hanging down at the front.

Music

Varied Court Musical Performances

Court life was filled with diverse performances, including operas, French-style ballets, and musical entertainment for both religious feasts and private aristocratic gatherings.

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.