Infanta María del Pilar of Spain

Getting around

Sluggish rail journeys in Spain

Rail travel was often sluggish, with one passenger complaining that a 130-mile trip between Cordoba and Madrid took 12 hours.

At the table

Gender inequality at the dinner table

In rural Spanish households during the mid-19th century, men often sat at the table to eat while women served them standing, frequently eating separately in the kitchen later.

What people wore

Limited wardrobes for humble women

A typical humble woman in mid-19th century Spain often possessed only two outfits: one for daily work and one reserved for Sundays and feast days.

Music

The dance of the Seises

In Seville Cathedral, a group of ten choir boys known as the Seises danced while playing castanets during major Catholic festivities.

Daily life

Buying fish for 2 reales

In Santoña, residents could buy fresh fish directly from fishing nets pulled to the shore for as little as 2 reales, although the catch size varied significantly.