Luís I of Portugal

Music

The origins of Fado

Fado emerged in 19th-century Lisbon as a spontaneous music form sung in taverns, streets, and homes, often associated with marginalized figures like sailors and coachmen. Performers often improvised poetry about love and daily life, sometimes accompanied by guitars.

At the table

Staple foods of ordinary families

Ordinary families typically ate broa (corn bread), sardines, and soup made of vegetables, potatoes, and beans. Meat and fish were scarce, making sardines a staple for the poor, often rubbed against bread to add flavor.

Daily life

Limited water, hygiene, and cooking facilities

Ordinary households lacked running water and sewage systems, often relying on expensive or difficult water collection methods; hygiene was rudimentary, and many urban dwellings were occupied by multiple families. Heating and lighting were limited, and in many popular homes, cooking was done over three stones rather than on stoves.

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.

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.

What it cost

Essential food prices in 1834

In 1834, in the town of Atalaia, wheat bread cost 30 réis per arrátel, while meat was significantly more expensive, with beef costing 70 réis per arrátel.