Juan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia

What people wore

Clothing as a valuable commodity

For many common people, clothing was so valuable that it was reused for years, listed in wills, and sometimes even used to pay funeral debts.

Daily life

Daily water collection at public fountains

Most people fetched water daily from the nearest public fountain because owning a private well was a rare luxury. Inside homes, water was typically stored in clay jars known as bucaros or large ceramic vessels.

Work

Agricultural labor and regulated daily wages

Many ordinary people were agricultural day laborers who worked from sunrise to sunset, often under strict municipal wage caps. In 1588, for example, Cifuentes set daily wages between 1 and 2 reales depending on the season.

Music

The popular five-course guitar

The five-course guitar emerged as the most popular instrument in Spain, played in all social settings ranging from taverns and homes to the royal court.

At the table

Wine was preferred to unsafe water

Wine was commonly drunk and even used to drink and cook; sources note people avoided water because its potability was poor and it could cause gastrointestinal illnesses.

Getting around

The postal relay system

The postal service system, established in the 16th century, allowed travelers to change horses at relay stations, which was considered the fastest and most advanced method of transport.

What it cost

Rising bread prices in the 1550s

The price of a loaf of bread in Málaga surged from 7 maravedíes in 1553 to 24 maravedíes by May 1557 due to poor harvests.