Infanta Catherine, Duchess of Braganza

Music

Enslaved musicians in 16th-century religious processions

Enslaved African musicians, including charameleiros (shawm players), were hired by municipalities in the 16th century to play drums during religious processions, such as those in Arraiolos and Montemor-o-Novo.

At the table

Common Foods and Market Delicacies

Sardines were a common and affordable fish for the poor, whereas fresh dairy products like cheese, cream, and milk-bread were sold in markets or by street vendors, sometimes adulterated with water. For sweet treats, ordinary people enjoyed honey-based items like alféloas and pinhoada.

Daily life

Water supply and sanitation routines

Water was not piped into homes; residents relied on public fountains or water carriers who hauled it uphill, though some households with private wells or cisterns in their yards could avoid this daily trip. Waste removal was irregular and required constant attention from residents to maintain sanitation in dense urban areas.

What people wore

Ceremonial dress and mourning attire

Ceremonial clothing in the early sixteenth century was often heavy, uncomfortable, and designed solely to be looked at, intentionally preventing the wearer from performing simple daily tasks. During this period, mourners wore coarse fabrics like burel, almáfega, and vaso as a form of penance.

Getting around

Daily travel distances and pace

A hurried group with riding animals could travel about 40 kilometers per day, provided they were not using oxen, which were much slower. Travelers often measured distances in leagues, though these were imprecise and often determined by how many taverns the muleteers wanted to stop at.

What it cost

Regulating food prices for the public

Municipal authorities in Porto actively set prices for bread, meat, and fish to keep them accessible, as bread was the core of the population's diet.