Connections and Community in Sixteenth-Century Verona

Abstract This article investigates the multiplicity of connections that were made between individuals from different trades and across the social hierarchy in sixteenth-century Verona. In the sixteenth century, Verona was a constituent part of the Venetian Empire with a large, diverse population. Each of the different neighborhoods of the city contained a heterogeneous mix of individuals, from the indigent poor to artisans, professionals, and the traditional elite, often living side by side. Through an exploration of three separate case studies from the courts of Verona, this article explores some of the ways in which these individuals socialized: at a card game, a dance, and a lottery. It is argued that connections were often made in spaces that transcended the public and private spheres, with domestic and workshop spaces being used to gather people from across the community. Despite concern from the authorities about the dangers of illicit gatherings, evidence within these cases suggests that there was an appetite among artisans of Verona to hold social occasions to earn extra income and to make new connections. Communities and culture were built among these wide and varied networks, and to understand more about everyday life and social ties in Renaissance Italy, it is important to look beyond traditional socio-economic and cultural boundaries.