Viktor, Hereditary Prince of Schönburg-Waldenburg

At the table

Frugal Breakfasts and Coffee Substitutes

Before true coffee became widespread, many families drank an infusion made from roasted chickpeas, wheat, barley, or even acorns. Breakfast was very frugal, consisting of little more than a piece of bread and occasionally a small amount of jam.

What people wore

Traditional rustic mastruca vests for men

Ordinary male peasants in Sardinia often wore the mastruca, a rustic vest made from four sheep or goat skins, a traditional garment that dates back to Roman times.

Getting around

Maritime travel to Sardinia

Steamers connecting Genoa to Sardinia typically took 24 to 26 hours to reach Porto Torres, and passengers landing in Cagliari were not subject to custom-house or police visits.

What it cost

Meat prices under the Second Empire

During the Second Empire, the price of a pound of meat increased from 49 to 68 centimes.

Music

The ballu tundu national dance

The ballu tundu, a circular chain dance, was the quintessential national dance of Sardinia, involving complex, secret hand pressures to coordinate movements.

Daily life

Seasonal hamlet schools for children

Children in mountain regions often attended hamlet schools during the winter season, which lasted only three to five months to accommodate the rural economy. These schools were frequently financed by private family donations and could even reduce lessons to two-and-a-half hours daily in areas with low financial capacity.