Infanta María Amalia of Spain

Getting around

Carriages and mule travel options

A traveler seeking economy might hire a light carriage called a volante, paying about six to nine livres per day for the machine and a mule to travel eight to ten leagues daily. Alternatively, those crossing bandit-prone areas could ride on a mule with common carriers, occupying the space otherwise used for a bale of goods.

Daily life

Water access and hygiene practices

Most people obtained water from public fountains, while those who could afford it purchased water from carriers who delivered it to their homes. Due to the difficulty of accessing water, personal hygiene was often limited, and many still followed the belief that water could be harmful to one's health.

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.

Music

Popular instruments and castanets

The guitar was the most popular domestic instrument, often used to accompany dances like the seguidilla and tirana. Dancers frequently played simple castanets, which were held in the palm by a bead tied to their fingers.

At the table

Diet of the Laboring Poor

Poor laborers often ate soup with oil or cornmeal porridge in the morning and legumes or salted sardines at midday. Wine was considered expensive, so these families typically drank it only on feast days, sometimes to excess.