Infante José, Prince of Brazil

What people wore

Fishermen kept gala outfits for generations

Fishermen wore simple linen breeches during work, but dressed in blue cloth suits for Sundays and kept their finest gala outfits for rare feast days. These precious gala sets were often passed down through generations, from parents to children and even grandchildren.

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.

At the table

Limpets as food for the needy

While fish was a primary food source, shellfish like limpets were often gathered from rocks by the needy as a cheap source of calories.

Music

Social Gatherings and Entertainment

Private social gatherings often featured music, dancing, and card games, with attendees enjoying tea, chocolate, and sweets. Orchestras or individual musicians were hired, and guests sometimes participated alongside professionals; dancing was so central that admission to events with balls could cost twice as much as those without.

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.