Isabel de Lemos

Music

Four Organs Playing in Unison

During a visit to the Monastery of Santa Cruz de Coimbra in 1550, four organs were played simultaneously to create a pleasant harmony.

At the table

Cod on the commoners' table

During the 16th century, ordinary people consumed cod as a source of animal protein, especially on festive occasions, prepared by frying, boiling, or roasting.

Daily life

Street food in 16th-century Lisbon

People of limited means in Lisbon purchased a variety of ready-to-eat foods from street vendors, including fried fish, grilled sardines, boiled tripe, and sweets like rice pudding and marmalade.

What people wore

Women's homely clothing and the baju jacket

Inside the home, women often went barefoot and wore a simple short jacket called a baju, which covered them only to the navel. Men frequently preferred this natural, homely look over elaborate festive clothing, which they felt detracted from a woman's true shape.

Getting around

Daily travel distance capabilities

A hurried group traveling with mounts could cover about 40 kilometers per day, provided they were not using oxen, which traveled much slower.

What it cost

Wheat Prices in Portugal 1550–1574

Between 1550 and 1574, the annual price of a moio of wheat fluctuated significantly, reaching as high as 6,000 réis in several years.