Archduke Rainer Ferdinand of Austria

At the table

Staple meals for working families

Working-class families often ate pasta, specifically a cheap, mixed-quality version called monnezzaglia, or relied on tavern food like the hearty minestra maritata soup made with meat and vegetables.

What people wore

Traditional women's accessories

Women often wore lace-trimmed aprons and high-heeled pointed shoes, typically in pink or light blue, fastened with silver buckles. Their hair was usually braided and collected at the nape of the neck, often decorated with ribbons and pins.

Getting around

Traveling the Difficult Southern Roads

In regions like Calabria, carriages were often impractical due to poor road conditions, forcing travelers to rely on mules or simple calessos for transport. A journey of roughly 500 km from southern Calabria to Naples was considered a major undertaking with no clear travel times advised.

What it cost

Daily wages for laborers and craftsmen

In the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies around 1825–1849, a common laborer earned 15–20 grana per day, while specialized craftsmen could earn 80 grana. Workers often received an additional daily allowance of 10–15 grana for food if it was not provided on the job.

Music

Music in religious festivals

Religious processions and festivals were vibrant musical events where people sang devotional songs and participated in popular theatre performances. These celebrations often merged music, dance, and collective banqueting to strengthen community bonds.

Daily life

Peasant homes in Fardella

Peasant homes in Fardella typically consisted of a ground floor for stables and storage, and a single first-floor room where families cooked, ate, and slept; they lacked both drinking water and electricity.