Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal

Music

Concertinas became central to rural life

The concertina, a small diatonic button accordion, became a central instrument for rural dances and festivals in northern Portugal during the early 20th century.

Daily life

Memorable facts on food and costs

A standard meal at a restaurant cost five or six tostões, and salted cod (bacalhau) was such a staple that it was sometimes eaten raw because it was considered highly nutritious.

What it cost

The molhadura contract tradition

In rural areas, workers were sometimes hired through a traditional practice called the molhadura, where a capataz paid for a glass of brandy to seal a weekly employment contract. This custom was compared to a human meat auction due to the lack of regulation.

What people wore

Traditional attire of Portuguese fishermen

Fishermen often wore simple work clothes, including linen trousers reaching the knee, a wool cap, and a sleeveless vest called a sertum. They only wore jackets in cold weather and saved elaborate, formal suits for special occasions like weddings or feast days.

Getting around

Oporto to Póvoa railway travel costs

In 1898, an 18-mile steam-powered rail journey from Oporto to Póvoa de Varzim took 90 minutes and cost 540 réis for a first-class ticket.

At the table

Shared Dining Practices

In rural areas, large families frequently ate their daily meals together from a single massive red clay plate placed on the table.