Joanna of Austria, Princess of Portugal

What people wore

Everyday peasant attire staples

Peasant women typically wore a linen or hemp shirt and bodice under a saya (skirt) and a black woolen mantelo, while men wore knee-length breeches and coarse buriel jackets.

Daily life

Wine preferred over unsafe water

Ordinary people in Habsburg Spain frequently preferred wine over water, as the water supply was often unsafe and could cause gastrointestinal illnesses.

Work

Seasonal Wage Fluctuations

Agricultural wages were seasonal; in Valladolid, a laborer could earn 60 maravedis a day during the summer, which was double the 30 maravedis earned in winter.

Music

Festival Wind Music Ensembles

Public and religious festivals featured wind instrument ensembles known as ministriles, who typically played in groups of four to six using instruments like flutes, cornets, and sackbuts.

At the table

Common drinks in Habsburg Spain

People rarely drank water due to poor quality and health risks, preferring wine that was often diluted or spiced. Another common drink in taverns was aloja, a rudimentary beverage made from carob fruits.

Getting around

Travel was by mule or horse

Ordinary people relied primarily on mules and horses to travel between towns, as wheeled vehicles were generally not used for long-distance passenger travel during this period.

What it cost

Daily worker income and living costs

A typical household in 16th-century Malaga, with a man earning 2 to 2.5 reales per day, found it difficult to survive due to rising costs.