Isabel de Lemos

Music

Four Organs Playing in Unison

During a visit to the Monastery of Santa Cruz de Coimbra in 1550, four organs were played simultaneously to create a pleasant harmony.

At the table

Dietary staples of the era

Bread, wine, and meat formed the dietary foundation, though commoners mostly relied on bread and fish, with less access to prestigious meat.

Daily life

Common eating spots in Lisbon

In 16th-century Lisbon, there were 300 taverns where people commonly consumed wine, brandy, bread, boiled and roasted meat, and fried fish.

What people wore

The loba: A voluminous outer garment

The loba was a wide, floor-length outer garment worn by both genders, often made of large amounts of fabric, which effectively hid the body's natural form. While it was common for civilians in public ceremonies, it eventually evolved to become an exclusive garment for male clergy and scholars.

Getting around

Professional goods transport specialists

Professional carriers known as almocreves, almoqueires, or recoveiros were responsible for long-distance transport of goods between the interior and the coast.

What it cost

Wheat Prices in Portugal 1550–1574

Between 1550 and 1574, the annual price of a moio of wheat fluctuated significantly, reaching as high as 6,000 réis in several years.