María de las Mercedes, Princess of Asturias

Getting around

Long hours for stagecoach travel

A journey by stagecoach between Manzanares and Granada took 30 hours, while a mule-drawn diligence trip from Granada to Jaen lasted nine hours.

At the table

Dietary differences among social classes

While the wealthy ate fine dishes like partridge or sea bream in new modern restaurants, humble households commonly consumed fasting potage, pickled sardines, cod, and potatoes. Poor families often ate very little meat, reserving it for special occasions, while bread and wine remained central to their diet.

What people wore

Dancing fashion and skirt lengths

Women's festive dancing attire often included long tails, though young unmarried women were expected to wear shorter, ground-length skirts.

Music

The popular tango dance in flamenco cafes

In the late 19th century, the tango was considered the most fashionable and popular dance in flamenco cafés, known for its grace, picaresque style, and use of accessories like shawls.

Daily life

Cramped living conditions in urban homes

Working-class homes often featured cramped, poorly lit rooms with little ventilation, frequently lacking basic amenities like internal toilets or running water. Households relied on simple furniture, oil lamps for lighting, and portable braziers or stoves for warmth.