On the Left of the End Wall, Concealed Behind a Curtain, Is the Larder, Where Meat, Cheese

2) THE KITCHENS

The kitchens have only recently been included in this tour, following restoration work and the purchase of various objects which help us understand the way of life in the 19th century. They are located at basement level, both to prevent any risk of fire (which could also have been achieved by locating them in a separate building in the garden), and to prevent any odours wafting up to the rooms on the ground floor. The large fireplace, stone washbasin and two wooden chopping blocks, used for cutting meat, are all original. At the fireplace is a swivel hook, used for hanging the cooking pot, which could also be placed in a special cavity on the work surface, with the embers underneath, for cooking or keeping food warm. Mounted on the left-hand wall is a large spit: the handle was given a complete turn, then the spit was kept in motion for a few minutes by a system of weights and counter-weights, allowing the cook to take care of other tasks. On the right is a coffee roaster and a coffee-grinder, while on the work surface there are copper pans and bed-warmers in glazed terracotta. On the right is the oven for baking pies and perhaps also bread; noble families would buy it from the baker, but they may also have baked it at home, once a week. The yeast was prepared the evening before, then mixed with flour and tepid water in the morning, and the dough kneaded for a long time. It was then cut into pieces, left to rise, and baked.

On the left of the end wall, concealed behind a curtain, is the larder, where meat, cheese, fruit and other foods needing to be kept cool were stored for a short time. The lack of refrigerators and freezers required an approach very different to that of today: meat had to be used within a short time, making it impossible to store the quantities we do today. Inside the larder, on the left, is an opening leading to the well. The grate is a recent addition; at one time it was possible to draw water from the well from inside the kitchen itself, without having to go up into the garden. The water was carried in buckets to the washbasin, on top of which is a large glazed slipware basin in terracotta, used for washing the crockery; the sloping stone surface allowed the water to drain outside into the courtyard. On the left, on the same wall, is a chopping board, with various utensils above: the iron for shaping passatelli, similar to pasta, but made using breadcrumbs, egg and cheese, and cooked in broth; the scoop for the flour, the scraper for the chopping board, the mezzaluna knife and the sieve. Go towards the stairs; on the left, hidden behind a curtain, there is a warm cupboard next to the large fireplace. This was probably where the bread dough was placed to allow it to rise.

Go back up to the ground floor, up the wooden stairs on the left and go into the luncheon room.