Isabella d'Este

What people wore

Extreme fabric usage in winter garments

In April 1511, some winter garments were so voluminous that they required up to 35 braccia of fabric, making them so heavy that they were difficult to wear.

Daily life

Water collection and sewage management

Florentine homes used roof gutters to collect rainwater into a tank for household use. They also maintained a separate tank for sewage that residents paid to have cleared daily.

Work

The Rhythm of the Working Day

Workdays began at dawn and ended at sunset, regulated by church bells, with the number of effective work days per year estimated at only about 230 due to numerous holidays. Apprenticeships typically started between ages 10 and 11 and lasted at least 3 years, with families sometimes paying masters to host and train their children.

Music

Domestic Instruments and Decorated Keyboards

By the mid-16th century, musical instruments like lutes, harpsichords, and spinets were found in households of various social levels, from noble families to barbers and merchants. Owners often decorated their keyboard instruments with mottoes such as There is dancing when I sing.

At the table

Monotonous diet for poor Florentines

Ordinary families had a monotonous diet based on unsalted bread, which was supplemented with inexpensive vegetables such as onions, fava beans, and black kale, or legumes instead of meat.

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.