Maria de los Angelos de Borbón y de Muguiro, Dame de Balincourt

Getting around

Road travel was frequently at walking pace

Road conditions were often so poor that mule-drawn omnibuses could travel no faster than a walking pace, sometimes requiring passengers to disembark while drivers repaired the road with stones.

At the table

Dietary differences among social classes

While the wealthy ate fine dishes like partridge or sea bream in new modern restaurants, humble households commonly consumed fasting potage, pickled sardines, cod, and potatoes. Poor families often ate very little meat, reserving it for special occasions, while bread and wine remained central to their diet.

What people wore

Segovian festive wool and velvet skirt

A Segovian festive skirt was made of red Merino wool and featured horizontal bands of black patterned velvet.

Music

Musical experts in social settings

In small social gatherings, those who could play string instruments like the violin, guitar, bandurria, or lute were considered the musical experts of the group.

Daily life

Cramped living conditions in urban homes

Working-class homes often featured cramped, poorly lit rooms with little ventilation, frequently lacking basic amenities like internal toilets or running water. Households relied on simple furniture, oil lamps for lighting, and portable braziers or stoves for warmth.