Fado Holidays

Fado holidays are a real dive into the soul and history of Portugal. This nostalgic, melancholic guitar music could be heard drifting through the streets of 19th-century Lisbon and Coimbra, before becoming the theme of the resistance during the Salazar dictatorship and today, the fado genre lives on in Portugal’s pubs, cafés and restaurants. On a trip to discover the best of fado, visit the traditional bars in old Lisbon, enjoying the atmosphere while the musicians sing and pluck their 12-string guitarras (classical Portuguese guitars). To hear fado’s evolution, head to Coimbra, where the genre’s second style evolved around the heart of the university district. Whether you choose the desperate emotion of Lisbon’s fado, or the hopeful optimism of Coimbra’s version, this impassioned genre will offer a window into the heart of Portuguese culture. Read more