The Fado of Coimbra

The Fado of Coimbra

The fado of Coimbra is an emblematic song of the town, closely linked to the academic traditions and the students. The Coimbra audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this music of the Portuguese soul, distinct from the fado of Lisbon.

The song of the soul linked to the students

When you seek to attach music to Portugal, one word stands out: the fado. This Portuguese song expresses a deep feeling, an ill that you suffer or a happiness that you enjoy, in an intense and melancholic emotion. Alongside the languorous fado of Lisbon, nourished by passion, nostalgia and amorous disappointments, you also hear the fado of Coimbra, which possesses its own identity. Closely linked to the academic traditions of the town, it is traditionally sung by men, often students or former students, dressed in the university costume and its black cape, accompanied by the Portuguese guitar. Its themes evoke love, the town, youth and the nostalgia of the study years. Often performed at night, during serenades, it makes the alleys of the town vibrate. A living cultural heritage and the musical soul of Coimbra, the fado of Coimbra is a stop to experience.

What to see

Here you discover the fado of Coimbra, a Portuguese song of emotion and melancholy distinct from that of Lisbon, closely linked to the academic traditions, traditionally sung by men dressed in the university costume and its black cape, accompanied by the Portuguese guitar, during nocturnal serenades. The fado is the musical soul of Coimbra. It is a stop to experience, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The fado of Coimbra is experienced in the old town, where fado houses and cultural venues offer concerts and shows, reachable on foot. The performances follow their own programme and hours, which vary. It is best to inquire about the concerts before coming.

How does the fado of Coimbra differ from that of Lisbon?

The fado of Coimbra is closely linked to the academic traditions and traditionally sung by men, often students dressed in the university costume and its black cape, accompanied by the Portuguese guitar, while the fado of Lisbon is nourished by passion and amorous nostalgia.

Where to experience the fado of Coimbra?

In the old town of Coimbra, where fado houses offer concerts, in Portugal.