Ana Chaves

Getting around

Daily Travel Distances

A hurried travel party on horseback could cover approximately 40 kilometers per day, though this distance was significantly reduced if the animals used for traction were oxen.

What it cost

Price of poultry and meat luxury

In 1499, a chicken was priced at 30 réis, and meat consumption was generally considered a luxury that was not within everyone's reach.

What people wore

Ceremonial dress and mourning attire

Ceremonial clothing in the early sixteenth century was often heavy, uncomfortable, and designed solely to be looked at, intentionally preventing the wearer from performing simple daily tasks. During this period, mourners wore coarse fabrics like burel, almáfega, and vaso as a form of penance.

Daily life

Multifunctional living in cramped urban homes

In cities like Lisbon, many modest households lived in narrow, rented rooms where cooking, sleeping, and storage were all compressed into one space. These homes often used wooden partitions, curtains, and benches to make rooms serve multiple purposes throughout the day.

Work

Rigorous Working Life and Maritime Hardship

A working day for laborers was strictly defined by daylight and religious bells, with rest reserved primarily for Sundays and holy days. Sailors faced particularly harsh conditions, with long, dangerous voyages and limited, poor-quality rations like dried biscuit and salted meat.

Music

Music on board ship expeditions

Long-distance maritime expeditions, such as Pedro Álvares Cabral's 1500 voyage, included musicians playing instruments like trumpets, drums, flutes, and bagpipes.

At the table

Common Foods and Market Delicacies

Sardines were a common and affordable fish for the poor, whereas fresh dairy products like cheese, cream, and milk-bread were sold in markets or by street vendors, sometimes adulterated with water. For sweet treats, ordinary people enjoyed honey-based items like alféloas and pinhoada.