FADO MUSEUM

Description

Essentials about the Fado Museum in brief

During a trip to Portugal, one usually comes into contact with Fado, by far the most famous Portuguese music. If you not only like to listen to Fado, but also want to learn more about the history and background of this music, you should visit the Museu do Fado (Fado Museum). Located in the historic Alfama district on the banks of the Tagus River, the museum provides an interesting overview of the many facets of Fado.

The Fado

Fado is the musical heritage of Portugal and has a great tradition. Because of its importance for the culture of Portugal, Fado is a UNESCO World Heritage worthy of protection since 2011. One should not make the mistake of equating fado with folklore or folk music. Incidentally, the word “fado” means “fate” and is thus to be understood as an expression of the state of mind of the Portuguese, the so-called “saudade”. Saudade is a specific Portuguese form of world-weariness. The word exists in this form only in Portuguese and can be inadequately translated as sadness, wistfulness, longing and melancholy. Saudade stands for the nostalgic feeling of having lost something beloved, and often expresses the unhappiness and repressed knowledge of never being able to satisfy the longing for what was lost, since it will not return.

The historical background for the development of Fado in Portugal is probably to be found in the fact that for centuries Portugal was a poor country that many people left for all directions of the world because of its location on the ocean. Thus, the music of Fado tells stories of parting and separation, of homesickness and unhappy love, of mourning for the good old days and longing for a better future.

The exhibition of the Fado Museum

In the Fado Museum’s interactive exhibition, visitors travel through the history of this so special Portuguese music. Performances by renowned fado artists also take place regularly in the museum’s auditorium. Next to the museum there is also a restaurant and a store where you can find a good selection of fado music.