Maria Pia of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Braganza

Maria Pia of Saxe-Coburg and Braganza, also known by her literary pseudonym Hilda de Toledano, was a Portuguese writer and journalist who claimed to be the bastard daughter of King Carlos I of Portugal. From 1932 she also claimed the right to the title of Duchess of Braganza and to be the rightful heiress to the throne of Portugal.

Cost of clothing in 1910

In 1910, a woman's outfit consisting of a corset, bodice, and underpants cost at least 2$140 réis, while a complete wardrobe for a bourgeois lady could cost 25$000 réis. Men's clothing, including accessories like ties and gloves, could cost between 25$000 and 50$000 réis.

Practical adjustments to women's clothing

For better mobility during work, country women often pulled their wide skirts up and fastened them, creating a large, functional circle around their hips. In some regions, they also wore specialized wool sleeves or leg warmers called canos during cold winter months.

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.

Fado reached all social classes

Fado was a popular urban song genre heard in cafes, clubs, and bullfights, enjoyed by both the elite in their salons and the lower classes.

Lisbon to Faro rail journey time

The journey by train from Lisbon to Faro took over 12 hours, leaving the Algarve region feeling isolated from the capital.

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.

Inequality in children's education

While upper-class children received careful private education often involving foreign governesses, children of the poor had almost no schooling and were frequently found begging in the streets.

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.

Broa as a Daily Staple

Corn bread (broa) was a staple food, often baked once a week and hung from a beam to stay fresh. Children often carried a piece of broa in their hands from morning until night.

High Cost of Basic Nutrition

Ordinary families typically spent 60 percent of their income on food, yet many still struggled to eat well.

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.

Daily wages for workers in Portugal

In 1917, a rural worker's average daily wage was $60 (escudos), while by 1924, it had risen to 8$50. In Lisbon, workers saw their daily pay increase from approximately 63 centavos in 1914 to 1 escudo in 1916 and 2 escudos in 1919.