Princess Isabella of Parma

What people wore

Limited daily wardrobes

Ordinary women often owned only two sets of clothes: one for daily chores and another specifically for Sundays and feast days. Clothing was frequently made at home, where even the smallest scraps of fabric were repurposed to fit children.

Getting around

Fast travel via post stations

In the 18th century, post stations allowed travelers to rent fresh horses at intervals of 14 to 22 kilometers, enabling speeds of up to 150 to 200 kilometers per day. This was the fastest method of travel for those who could afford it.

At the table

Eggs and fruits in the diet

Eggs were a vital and common source of protein for rural households, which often maintained small backyard flocks. In contrast, fresh fruit was consumed frequently by all classes, often eaten at the end of meals in various forms like raw, dried, or preserved.

Music

Private concerts and dancing in 1745 Madrid

During 1745 Carnival, guests at a private Madrid home enjoyed performances by a professional soprano, followed by guests dancing the minuet and the fandango. The events concluded with an elaborate buffet known as an ambigu.

Daily life

Communal cooking and eating habits

Cooking was done over a hearth or small stove using ceramic pots, and ordinary people frequently ate from a single pot using spoons rather than individual sets of plates and cutlery. Bread and wine were essential daily staples, often supplemented with vegetables, legumes, or a stew called gazpacho.

What it cost

Annual meat costs for a household

To feed a household, a daily ration of two pounds of meat—split between mutton and beef—was calculated at 730 reales de vellón per year.