Orsolina della Penna

What people wore

Restrictions on jewelry for young adults

Sumptuary laws issued in 1516 forbade residents under thirty from wearing jewels or pearls, though they were permitted to own no more than three rings decorated with precious stones.

Daily life

Practical schooling and early childhood guidance

Merchant children attended abacus schools that taught reading, writing, and arithmetic in a practical way specifically for trade. By age four or five, play toys like swords and hobby horses were used to direct children toward their future societal roles.

Work

Common Jobs in the Wool Industry

The wool industry was the primary employer in Florence, relying on many unskilled laborers known as the Ciompi who prepared raw wool in merchant-owned workshops. Other common roles included silk production, construction, and various specialized artisanal trades.

Music

Popular Carnival Songs and Street Performances

Ordinary people in Florence during the early 16th century enjoyed carnival songs, which were popular secular tunes performed during processions, parades, and street revelry. These songs often featured witty texts about trade guilds or products, such as the Song of the Chimney Sweepers, and were sung by costumed groups.

At the table

Meat reserved for special celebrations

Meat was reserved for special occasions like holidays, and when a family slaughtered a pig, they typically offered blood sausage to neighbors as a gesture of friendship.

Getting around

Mountain travel time to Bologna

Travel between Florence and Bologna through the Apennine passes on horseback or mule typically took two to three days.

What it cost

Unskilled worker daily wages

An unskilled worker in Florence could earn between 7 and 10 soldi per day, often totaling less than 20 florins annually.