For the Renaissance lords of Italy, courts were the places where they could rest from the strain of wars and government, where to enjoy the pleasures of life, make important alliances and show off their wealth and power.
Hosting dinners was a major pastime, although calling them ‘dinners’ would be downplaying: they were sophisticated banquets complete with entertainment activities where every detail was taken care of with extreme care, starting with the location: the garden of a countryside estate in warm weather, or the most beautiful room of the palace in winter. When inside, rooms were lavishly decorated with tapestries and precious fabrics, festoons and garlands with scented flowers and leaves. Dish and cutlery sets were luxurious as all the rest, with splendid containers made of the most precious materials.
