José María de Souza Botelho

What people wore

Linen saved for lifetime festive wear

Villagers painstakingly washed and bleached fine linen to store in wooden trunks, saving these materials to be hand-sewn into special feast-day clothing that would last a lifetime. In contrast, coarser tow-cloth was used for everyday work clothes, which were constantly patched by local seamstresses to maintain them.

Daily life

Costs for lodging and meals in Lisbon

Travelers in Lisbon could stay in rented rooms where daily food, including lunch and dinner, cost 30 réis, while the room itself was charged separately, ranging from 10 to 40 réis. Simpler meals at food houses commonly cost 12 réis.

Music

The Popular Fandango Dance

In the 18th century, the fandango became so popular across all social classes that some foreign travelers considered it Portugal's national dance. Originally from Spanish theaters, it was danced by couples using castanets or finger snapping, often in taverns and even convents.

At the table

Cod as a staple for the poor

Dried and salted cod, known as bacalhau, was a staple protein for ordinary people because it was affordable and easy to store.

Getting around

Common travel in mule-drawn calashes

Due to poor road conditions, the most common vehicles in Lisbon were two-mule calashes, while traveling by horse or mule was often necessary. A rental calash in the city cost 42 réis per day.