Francesco Farnese

What people wore

Feast day attire

For feast days and Sundays, people increasingly wore finer, brightly colored fabrics that were imported rather than produced in the village.

Daily life

Ursuline education for girls

Ursuline sisters in Parma and Piacenza managed a unique form of cloister that allowed them to leave their homes to attend church and teach local girls. Families valued this education because it provided a controlled way for their daughters to be seen in public.

Work

The rhythm of the working day

Urban life followed strict daylight rhythms where people typically started their day when city gates opened at 4 a.m. and retired around 8 p.m. Daily life was heavily influenced by seasonal shifts, with the most intense labor occurring during the warmer months from April to October.

Music

Lute purchased for 6 scudi

In July 1559, the court paid 6 scudi moneta to the maker Master Martino for a lute, highlighting the instrument's role in personal entertainment for the nobility.

At the table

Taxes on everyday foods

During the mid-17th century, authorities imposed specific taxes on everyday food items including cheese, fruits, wine, cakes, pastries, salami, and fresh pork.

Getting around

Slow daily travel speeds

Under normal conditions in the 17th century, travelers and cargo rarely moved more than 25 miles per day, with speeds decreasing significantly in bad weather or difficult terrain.

What it cost

Daily wages and food costs in Turin

Ordinary workers in Turin earned daily wages of just a few dozen soldi, making a single measure of wheat cost as much as six to ten days of labor during price spikes.