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Museu do Fado - Visit and celebrate this beautiful cultural heritage
Did you know that fado is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity? It’s true. This is the first artistic expression to receive this distinction in Portugal.
You’re mistaken if you believe that all Portuguese love fado, but it’s true that a large part is proud of this musical heritage. Even those who don’t like to hear it, they know that fado means "saudade” (a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia that is supposedly characteristic of the Portuguese temperament. It has no English equivalent).
If you are looking for things to do in Lisbon, the fado houses are one of the charms of the city’s night. It's always worth going into a house and mingling with the tourists and the bohemian "alfacinhas” (it’s a nickname for Lisbon locals). One thing is for sure, never forget that you should always be silent when someone is singing fado. In Portuguese they say: "Silêncio, que se vai cantar o fado” - Silence for fado will be sung.
Fado conquers hearts
Even if you don’t understand the lyrics or are listening to fado just passing through, you'll fall in love with the guitarists' introspective glances, the eccentricity of the "fadistas” (fado singer) and even, perhaps, the half-quality wine and cheap snacks they put on the table. Everything gets another taste, especially when we talk about the music made by the people and for the people. What was once associated with poorer and more marginal environments is now part of any social class.To understand the history of this "sad fate”, it’s best to visit the Museu do Fado. It’s situated in the heart of Alfama, next to Largo do Chafariz de Dentro.
Here you will find a collection of hundreds of performers, authors, composers, musicians, among other more and less well-known names. The museum pays tribute to all the protagonists of an approximate history of 200 years.
Beyond the museum
After opening its doors in 1998, the Museu do Fado grew and managed to cement its position in the Lisbon travel guide books. It’s an important source of the cultural identity of the city and the country and, in addition to the exhibitions, it has an auditorium, which hosts various activities, rehearsal spaces, a shop and a restaurant.
So, there’s no reason to leave this visit aside. Explore the museum and, in the end, get lost in the alleyways of Alfama. It’s going to be easy to find a typical Portuguese fado house.
