Let us follow their footsteps over Rome’s cobblestones as they flick their silky fans at us. Fiammetta, Matrema-non-vole and Imperia are just a few of the most famous of Rome's cortigiane oneste, the upper class courtesans who were treated as royalty by their admirers and would-be lovers in the 15th and early 16th centuries. Their fantastical gowns, sumptuous jewels and luxurious apparel, outrageous banquets and intricate etiquette made their way into ballads, literary works and music -- often written by these very same educated, sophisticated women. Their colourful world all but disappeared with the Sack of Rome in 1527 and the strictures of the Counter-Reformation, but their memory lives on in the streets, and we will explore it.
When: Sunday, April 14, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. walk starts; optional: meet at 9:30 for coffee or 9:45 for briefing.
Meeting Place: registered participants will be informed of the exact spot by email.
Cost: €10 for CCR members, €15 for non-members. You are financially responsible for your booking.
RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Peter before 5 p.m. April 11.
