Accordingly I have been assured, that, of the twenty-eight inhabitants of the territories of Placentia, two thousands are ecclesiastics, monks, nuns, &c. On the fifth day of April the great yearly fair commences, and lasts a fortnight. Placentia fair is accounted the largest in all Italy; but it is not to be compared with the fairs held in Germany. ... The best entertainment in Placentia during the fair, was the opera, where three of the best singers in Italy performed the vocal part, namely, Carlo Broschi, detto Farinelli, Giovanni Carestini, and Francesca Cuzzoni Sandoni. A person is admitted into the pit for a paolo. One inconveniency that attended this diversion was, that the opera did not begin till ten o'clock at night, and was not over till near four in the morning. The duke and dutchess of Parma, with a very numerous retinue, were present. ... The river Po runs at the distance of five or six hundred paces from Placentia; and the whole district, on account of which the city is very justly called Piacenza, i.e. pleasantness, exhibits a delightful prospect from the top of one of the towers in the city.
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