Infante Alexandre of Portugal

What people wore

Simple and borrowed festive wear for fishermen

Fishermen wore simple, uniform clothing including linen drawers, a woolen hat, and a sleeveless vest, adding a jacket only in cold weather. On feast days, they upgraded to a suit with silver shoe buckles and striped cotton stockings, often borrowed from relatives if they did not own one.

Getting around

Daily travel distances were limited

A standard daily distance for a hurried group with horses was about 40 kilometers, though speeds were much lower if using oxen.

At the table

Bread price and weight regulations

In times of scarcity, a pound of wheat bread cost 10 réis, but when grain prices rose to 500 réis, the weight of the bread was reduced to about 0.3 kilograms.

Music

Music and dance at private assemblies

At private gatherings, guests enjoyed music, dance, card games, and meals, with the amount of music often reflecting the host's socioeconomic status.

Daily life

Drinking Water Vessels

The Portuguese enjoyed drinking water from red clay púcaros from Estremoz, which were very light and scented with turpentine.