Infante Jaime, Duke of Segovia

Getting around

Circular railway tickets for long journeys

At the start of the 20th century, travelers could purchase circular tickets from the Norte Company, allowing them to travel up to 3,000 kilometers over 45 days.

At the table

Staple diet of ordinary Spanish families

Ordinary families relied heavily on cereals, potatoes, and legumes, which made up about 60% of their caloric intake. Meat consumption was low due to high prices, and families often saved money by eating simple national dishes like puchero.

What people wore

Limited Wardrobes and Constant Mending

Ordinary people wore clothes until they wore out, often mending them until they could be reused as rags; many owned only two outfits, one for work and one for Sunday or feast days.

Music

Phonographs brought music to the home

Between 1898 and 1905, phonographs became accessible entertainment at inns, civic centers, and private homes for the working class.

Daily life

Modernizing Urban Homes and Cooking

In urban homes, the arrival of electricity and gas, along with running water and central heating, transformed daily life, though these modern comforts were primarily enjoyed by the affluent. For many, traditional charcoal stoves remained the standard for cooking until well into the 1920s.