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Authors: Elizabeth Lev
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by my arrival." 4
The curious onlookers were not disappointed by the first appearance of the young countess. Teenager though she was, Caterina knew how to walk the red carpet. She requested a pause in the journey as soon as the town came into view in order to bathe, change her clothes, and groom herself elegantly. She rode into Imola not dusty and travel worn, but splendidly attired, a young woman with a regal bearing. The Milanese sense of style was ingrained in Caterina, and high fashion delighted her.
Countess Caterina Riario wore the most magnificent of her wedding gifts from her husband: a gold brocade dress embroidered with almost a thousand tiny pearls. Several strands of pearls of varying sizes encircled her long fair neck, while from her straight, slim shoulders hung a heavy cape of black silk trimmed with gems. There were nevertheless some incongruities in her appearance. Her heavy veil and jeweled hair net, appropriate for a matron, seemed cumbersome framing such a youthful face.
The elders of Imola greeted her at the gate and presented her with the keys to the city. This gesture was followed by a ceremony during which odes and orations honored the new rulers. The most spectacular blooms of May had been gathered and woven into garlands to line Caterina's path along the straight main street. The heady scent of lilies and roses mingled with the sweet trilling voices of the Imolese children, who ran alongside the countess, serenading her. In the central square, a grand pavilion had been erected for the occasion and here Caterina took her place on a podium, which was swathed in luxurious green velvet, and met the nobles of the city.
Girolamo's sister Violante Riario Ricci, the wife of the governor of Imola, was there to welcome Caterina and introduce her to the other noblewomen. In a short time they were all happily acquainted. After the formalities and presentations were concluded, the banquets began. The main hall of the governor's palace had been specially decorated for the occasion, and even the Milanesi, world famous for their silks and brocades, were stunned by the dazzling panels of turquoise cloth lining the ceiling and the exquisite tapestries adorning the walls. One section of the room was taken up by a broad cabinet groaning under the weight of the gold and silver dinnerware arrayed on its shelves.
Five hundred years ago, Emilia-Romagna was already the food capital of Italy, and its denizens put great stock in meals and feasts. The Imolesi brought Caterina foodstuffs as gifts: golden wheat from the fertile plains of Romagna, fragrant sausages and cured meats made from the well-fed pigs of the region, and numerous delectable cheeses, some aged to sharp perfection and others still fresh and soft. Caterina invited her many well-wishers to remain for dinner and the party went on far later than expected; candelabras were brought into the dining chamber to keep the festivities going until late at night.
For several days, Caterina's life was a constant celebration. Morning Mass in the chapel was followed by picnics in the countryside, visits to the marketplace, and of course, many meals, which were wonderful not only for "the variety and the delicacy of the foods but also for the abundance." Caterina was installed in quarters appropriate to her state. Her suite of rooms was lavishly appointed with white damask silk panels highlighted with gold embroidery. Dozens of soft cushions covered the velvet chairs, and a crimson coverlet lay upon her bed.
Outside, however, the town of Imola appeared starkly rustic. Gian Luigi Bossi, Caterina's protector, reported that Imola was small and the houses poor looking, although he admired the fortress (recently rebuilt by Galeazzo Maria), which was strong and well fortified. While he had much to comment on concerning the customs of Imola, especially the dancing, he understood that his mission was not to observe the food, fashions, or footwork of the townspeople, but rather to
The curious onlookers were not disappointed by the first appearance of the young countess. Teenager though she was, Caterina knew how to walk the red carpet. She requested a pause in the journey as soon as the town came into view in order to bathe, change her clothes, and groom herself elegantly. She rode into Imola not dusty and travel worn, but splendidly attired, a young woman with a regal bearing. The Milanese sense of style was ingrained in Caterina, and high fashion delighted her.
Countess Caterina Riario wore the most magnificent of her wedding gifts from her husband: a gold brocade dress embroidered with almost a thousand tiny pearls. Several strands of pearls of varying sizes encircled her long fair neck, while from her straight, slim shoulders hung a heavy cape of black silk trimmed with gems. There were nevertheless some incongruities in her appearance. Her heavy veil and jeweled hair net, appropriate for a matron, seemed cumbersome framing such a youthful face.
The elders of Imola greeted her at the gate and presented her with the keys to the city. This gesture was followed by a ceremony during which odes and orations honored the new rulers. The most spectacular blooms of May had been gathered and woven into garlands to line Caterina's path along the straight main street. The heady scent of lilies and roses mingled with the sweet trilling voices of the Imolese children, who ran alongside the countess, serenading her. In the central square, a grand pavilion had been erected for the occasion and here Caterina took her place on a podium, which was swathed in luxurious green velvet, and met the nobles of the city.
Girolamo's sister Violante Riario Ricci, the wife of the governor of Imola, was there to welcome Caterina and introduce her to the other noblewomen. In a short time they were all happily acquainted. After the formalities and presentations were concluded, the banquets began. The main hall of the governor's palace had been specially decorated for the occasion, and even the Milanesi, world famous for their silks and brocades, were stunned by the dazzling panels of turquoise cloth lining the ceiling and the exquisite tapestries adorning the walls. One section of the room was taken up by a broad cabinet groaning under the weight of the gold and silver dinnerware arrayed on its shelves.
Five hundred years ago, Emilia-Romagna was already the food capital of Italy, and its denizens put great stock in meals and feasts. The Imolesi brought Caterina foodstuffs as gifts: golden wheat from the fertile plains of Romagna, fragrant sausages and cured meats made from the well-fed pigs of the region, and numerous delectable cheeses, some aged to sharp perfection and others still fresh and soft. Caterina invited her many well-wishers to remain for dinner and the party went on far later than expected; candelabras were brought into the dining chamber to keep the festivities going until late at night.
For several days, Caterina's life was a constant celebration. Morning Mass in the chapel was followed by picnics in the countryside, visits to the marketplace, and of course, many meals, which were wonderful not only for "the variety and the delicacy of the foods but also for the abundance." Caterina was installed in quarters appropriate to her state. Her suite of rooms was lavishly appointed with white damask silk panels highlighted with gold embroidery. Dozens of soft cushions covered the velvet chairs, and a crimson coverlet lay upon her bed.
Outside, however, the town of Imola appeared starkly rustic. Gian Luigi Bossi, Caterina's protector, reported that Imola was small and the houses poor looking, although he admired the fortress (recently rebuilt by Galeazzo Maria), which was strong and well fortified. While he had much to comment on concerning the customs of Imola, especially the dancing, he understood that his mission was not to observe the food, fashions, or footwork of the townspeople, but rather to
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