World Fado Day is celebrated on November 27, a very special date that pays tribute to our “more than anything” musical genre Fado, which is also a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a title awarded in 2011.
Deeply rooted in Portuguese culture, Fado is a symbol of our country and one of our greatest artistic expressions, combining melodies with poetry and, of course, strong emotions, nostalgia, but also joy.
And the cradle of our Fado is Lisbon, which still celebrates it today in many of the main must-visit places, such as the Fado Museum or, of course, in the various Fado houses scattered throughout the city.
The Queen of Fado
There’s no turning back! In Portugal, when you talk about Fado, you have to mention the great name of our great Fado diva, Amália Rodrigues.
And in Lisbon, there are many ways to celebrate this date through the iconic figure of the “Queen of Fado”… and it’s precisely this Fado guide that we’re going to present to you next, because our city is the perfect stage for you to experience everything that Amália gave, not only to our country, but to the whole world.
Table Of Contents
Amália Rodrigues House-Museum
Located in Rua de São Bento, this space is totally dedicated to our fado singer, in a space that still preserves her main personal objects, various clothes (shoes with 16-centimeter heels), awards (many) and photographs that tell her whole story.
We’ve been there several times and we’ll tell you all about our experience there, which was very rewarding and allowed us to “kill” our nostalgia for the greatest fado singer Portugal ever had.
Fado Experience in Amália’s Garden
Still inside the Casa-Museu de Amália Rodrigues, but this time outside in its garden, you’ll be able to enjoy a live Fado experience with the interpretation of several of her songs.
Of course, we ‘ ve been there too, several times, and all our visits are always different, full of emotions listening to some of the most beautiful poems we’ve ever heard sung.
Experiência de Fado na Casa da Amália com concerto ao vivo
Classics by Amália
This is an invitation from the Amália Rodrigues Foundation, which has organized a very special musical show, “A minha canção é Saudade – Clássicos de Amália”.
This is an acoustic concert, inside the Casa-Museu Amália Rodrigues, with the same cast as the Fado sessions in the Jardim da Amália, but in this show they will perform some of the greatest classics that the artist took to the four corners of the world
A Minha Canção é Saudade | Clássicos de Amália
Ah Amália – Living Experience
In Marvila, you’ll find this immersive experience about our diva, which offers an innovative approach to the life of Amália Rodrigues.
The exhibition combines cutting-edge technology such as virtual reality, holograms and 360º videomapping, where, among other things, you can learn about the most remarkable moments in the fado singer’s career.
Ah Amalia - Living Experience
Live Fado, with appetizers
This proposal is a true Authentic Fado Experience, which includes not only the live Fado session but also a tour led by an expert guide, and a selection of snacks to accompany the Fado show, from where you can admire and feel in a privileged place.
Lisboa: Show de fado ao vivo com aperitivos
Fado houses in Alfama
The Alfama neighborhood , one of the most typical, characteristic and well-known in the city of Lisbon, is also where you’ll find the largest number of Fado houses, where you’re sure to hear and enjoy many songs sung by Amália Rodrigues.
At the same time, you can indulge in various typical Portuguese delicacies while enjoying these nightly shows. One of our last experiences was at Fama d’Alfama, where throughout the night(show + dinner) we listened to an incredible new generation of fado singers.
Fado in unexpected places
We’re talking about the Real Fado concerts, which every week feature live sessions in various unusual locations around the city.
Pavilhão Chinês, Reservatório da Patriarcal and EmbaiXada are three such places, which have all the ingredients to make your visit a unique and memorable experience.
More concerts in January 2025
For next January 2025, tickets can already be purchased for two more intimate sessions, which combine the best of Fado with other musical genres, such as Morna or Samba . They will take place at Wines of Portugal, in Praça do Comércio:
- Fado & Morna, on January 11: a tribute to Cesária Évora and Amália Rodrigues in an acoustic concert featuring Célia Leiria (Fado) and Valter Monteiro (Morna);
- Saudades do Brasil em Portugal, on January 18: a unique evening that brings together the sounds of Portugal and Brazil, with Célia Leiria and Mel accompanied by Pedro Amendoeira’s Portuguese guitar and Flávio Cardoso’s viola.
