María Teresa de Vallabriga y Rozas

What people wore

The Essential Male Cape

Ordinary men frequently wore a cape, which was considered essential even for the very poor, who might lack a shirt or shoes but would still wear their cape to be buried decently. The cape served multiple purposes, acting as a mattress or blanket at night and as a way to hide worn-out clothing.

Getting around

Primary transport modes in Bourbon Spain

Between 1750 and 1774, most travel relied on mules, horses, or oxen, as railways and steamships did not yet exist in Spain. People traveled by coach, carriage, or on horseback, with the posta system providing the fastest travel for those who could afford it.

What it cost

Annual cost of basic food items

In the mid-18th century, a daily ration of 1.5 pounds of bread for a maid cost roughly 576 reales de vellón per year. Meat for a household—half mutton, half beef—cost 730 reales de vellón annually.

Music

Cost of music lessons in Seville

In 1755, dance and music masters in Seville charged three reales de vellón per day for their professional instruction. Lessons included learning how to dance and how to play various instruments.

Daily life

Kitchen life and cooking customs

Cooking was done in fireplaces using basic equipment like iron pots, pans, and grills, and families often gathered in the kitchen because it was the only room in the house kept warm. Chocolate was a prized, calorie-rich item used to show social status, often consumed as a drink by those who could afford it.

Work

Daily Diet and Food Costs

A common diet for working families included bread, wine, and simple warm dishes like a stew, with a daily allowance of only eight maravedís often set aside for a maid's food.