Augusto Pedro de Mendóça Rolim de Moura Barreto, 3rd Count of Azambuja

Music

Music in the royal chapel

In the royal chapel, organists sometimes played airs that were considered too tender and voluptuous for the solemnity of church services. Religious ceremonies were spectacles that combined music, incense, and lights to deeply move the kneeling crowds.

At the table

Staple foods of ordinary families

Ordinary families typically ate broa (corn bread), sardines, and soup made of vegetables, potatoes, and beans. Meat and fish were scarce, making sardines a staple for the poor, often rubbed against bread to add flavor.

Daily life

Small, multipurpose homes with central kitchens

Many popular homes were small, multipurpose spaces where a fireplace in the kitchen served as the central point for cooking, eating, and even sleeping. For the poorest families, dwellings often lacked basic furniture such as beds, relying on chests or arks instead.

What people wore

Inherited feast day suits for fishermen

Fishermen in the Beira Litoral region wore formal suits for feast days that were often passed down through generations, including coats and waistcoats from the 18th century, knee breeches, and silver shoe buckles. If they did not own these items, they would borrow them from friends or relatives.

Getting around

Reliance on River and Coastal Travel

Due to the lack of adequate roads and public transport, river and coastal sea travel were essential, though they were often slow, uncomfortable, and risky. In one recorded instance, a boat trip between Alhandra and Lisbon stalled due to low tide and fog, forcing passengers to wait until midnight to reach their destination.

What it cost

Essential food prices in 1834

In 1834, in the town of Atalaia, wheat bread cost 30 réis per arrátel, while meat was significantly more expensive, with beef costing 70 réis per arrátel.