Maria I of Portugal

What people wore

Fishermen's simple daily and festive attire

Fishermen typically wore linen breeches to the knee, a wool cap, and a vest called a sertum, only adding a jacket in cold weather. On feast days, they wore formal outfits with silver shoe buckles, borrowing from friends or relatives if they did not own one.

Daily life

Simple cooking and olive oil use

Cooking often occurred in a simple space with a portable hearth and limited tools; olive oil was the primary fat used for cooking, as religious customs restricted the use of animal fats on certain days.

Music

Guitars and violins fueled lively festivities

During social events, when festivities became lively, it was common for guests to play the guitar or violin and sing before transitioning into dances.

At the table

Bread price and weight regulations

In times of scarcity, a pound of wheat bread cost 10 réis, but when grain prices rose to 500 réis, the weight of the bread was reduced to about 0.3 kilograms.

Getting around

Travel by foot and pack animals

In the mid-18th century, ordinary people primarily traveled on foot or used pack animals like mules, as there were almost no carriage roads for public transport. Travel was slow and difficult, with carriages like the seggia or liteira being rare, expensive luxuries for the elite.