Museu do Fado (Fado Museum), Lisbon

The Fado Museum of Lisbon is a dedicated space for exploring and celebrating Fado music. Although another variant of Fado is sung in the city of Coimbra, the Lisbon rendition, originating in the 1840s from the songs of sailors, is the earliest and most beloved.

Since its inauguration in 1998, the museum has been an important cultural landmark. It is housed in the historic building, constructed in 1868, and now classified as a Property of Municipal Interest.

Originally engineered as the Alfama Water Pumping Station, the building functioned in this capacity until 1938. Following that, it served various roles including a workshop and a center for the Portuguese Communist Party following the 1974 Carnation Revolution. It was extensively remodeled and expanded between 1995 and 1998 to accommodate the museum.

The Fado Museum comprises a permanent exhibition, temporary exhibition spaces, a documentation center, a themed shop, an auditorium, and a café. Additionally, it hosts the school which offers courses in Portuguese guitar and Fado guitar and provides rehearsal space for performers.

Lately, the permanent exhibition has shifted from recreating traditional Fado environments to showcasing artworks and historical objects associated with Fado. The museum also features interactive points that document the history of Fado and allow visitors to explore biographies and listen to recordings. Be sure to make use of the complimentary headsets, which explain the various guitars and sitars on display. Visitors can also purchase music recordings at the museum shop and, on weekends, enjoy live performances at the in-house café (the fee is included in the ticket).

Moreover, since 2016, the Fado Museum has enhanced its digital presence by offering a Digital Sound Archive on its website, which houses thousands of historical sound recordings accessible by performers or repertoire.

If you are interested in the quintessential sounds of Lisbon and find yourself with some spare time, consider a visit here.

Tip:
If looking to get a good bite with your Fado experience, consider PARREIRINHA DE ALFAMA (open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 pm–10:30 pm) or GUITARRAS DE LISBOA (open Monday-Saturday from 8 pm–2 am). If you prefer good food, reasonable prices, and warm hospitality without Fado singing, there are numerous other options to explore, such as RODA VIVA, O BECO, A MURALHA TASCA TIPICA LISBOA... otherwise, you can venture at your own pace and discover the dining offerings in the area.