Infanta María Luisa Isabel of Spain

Getting around

Stagecoach travel revolutionizes Spanish transit

Organized stagecoach travel between major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia began in 1816, significantly reducing travel times by the 1850s. For example, a journey from Madrid to Barcelona that took about 13 days in the 1820s was reduced to 3 to 4 days by the 1850s.

At the table

Meat was a luxury, not daily fare

Meat was largely absent from the daily diet of ordinary families due to its high cost, leaving them to rely on bread, oil, legumes, and occasionally pork fat or sardines.

What people wore

Essential outdoor attire for women

Regardless of social class, women wore a black basquiña skirt and a mantilla over their other clothes when going out in public or to church. These garments were considered so essential that they were present in every dowry, whether from a wealthy or modest family.

Music

Fashionable instruments and popular musical styles

The guitar was a fashionable instrument, often used to accompany popular songs and dances like the fandango, seguidilla, and tirana.

Daily life

Basic Kitchens and Shared Cooking Spaces

Kitchens were typically basic, often featuring a simple stove or brazier with few earthenware pots for cooking. Meals were frequently prepared in common pots, and specialized dining rooms were rare or considered an afterthought in many homes.