Visit to Palazzo Vecchio- Amalia

I really enjoyed our class trip to the Palazzo Vecchio. The intricate details of the walls and ceilings were so memorable and breathtaking. I was so amazed by the intricate gold work on the ceilings. My favorite murals on the walls were the ones with infants and animals. There were a few murals with babies and goats, which clearly had so much meaning to the Florentine people and their outlook on life and human growth.

By the far the best part of our visit to Palazzo Vecchio was the secret passage with the gorgeous replicas of Medici clothing, and of course, our surprise visit from Elenora de Toledo.  As we took a walk down the hallway with the replica clothing, one piece that struck a cord in my brain was the little boy’s red silk-velvet outfit. Not only was the color red, a color that defines high status, but this was an everyday outfit of a young boy to signify his future duties in the military.  I found it so interesting that  at no matter what age, a boy always represents his status in society with his military garments. I remember professor said that fashion embodies politics and society and I believe this piece of clothing does just that.

I had a great time with Elenora de Toledo today! It was crazy to here what the daily life of a duchess was like in the 1500's and how dependent they were on other people. Women had no rights, were married at a young age, and completely relied on their husbands. Their main duty was to produce children and care for their husband. When we were speaking on behalf of 21^st century women, she was amazed that none of us were married at the age of 20. In the 1500’s most women already had babies and were well over halfway through their expected life span.  Elenora’s daily attire consisted of a white undergarment, a tight satin corset, and a hoop satin skirt. Her sleeves were big, puffy with dark blue accents. The corset and skirt she wore for us today was blue with a gold trim. She told us that during the summer she wears satin (rather than velvet) to keep cool. She said that a women was identified by their clothing, and that a Christian women must be covered at all times.

Elenora referred to the Spanish style she brought to Florence. When she arrived in Florence from Naples, she wore a ton of leather and dark colors. She said that the Florentine’s did not approve of her attire, but that overtime, the leather and colors became a trend in Italy. It was interesting to see how her Spanish background translated into Florentine fashion that is still prominent today.

I had a great day at Palazzo Vecchio. That’s all for now!