Inácia Carolina Horta

What people wore

Gold jewelry in Madeiran peasant dress

In Madeira, well-to-do countrywomen were identified by gold chains, which they wrapped twice around their necks and fastened to the lower part of their bright, sometimes embroidered bodices. For men and women, fine linen shirts were fastened with buttons that were sometimes made of gold.

Daily life

Typical urban housing and layout

Urban houses often had a functional layout where the kitchen was placed on the top floor, partly for safety against fire, while ground floors were used for shops or workshops. Living quarters were often cramped, with high buildings blocking sunlight and providing poor insulation against the weather.

Music

Grand religious music festivals

Church ceremonies were often grand, with musicians sometimes playing instrumental music or even operatic-style airs, reflecting a mix of devotion and entertainment.

At the table

The staple diet of common people

Bread, wine, and sardines were the standard meal for common people, with poor families sometimes rubbing a single sardine against bread to give it flavor.

Getting around

Surprising Mule Travel Hazards

Travelers often rode mules on pack saddles without stirrups, reins, or bits, allowing the animals to follow their own familiar paths between pine trees. Because the animals were trained to recognize taverns, they would often break into a gallop upon spotting one, forcing passengers to crouch to avoid hitting their heads on the door frames.