Museum of the Amália Rodrigues Foundation

The Museum of the Amália Rodrigues Foundation, located in the historic Rua de São Bento in Lisbon, is dedicated to the life and career of the famous fado singer Amália Rodrigues, one of the most iconic figures in Portuguese culture. Inaugurated on July 23, 2001, the museum is located in the house where Amália lived for 44 years, from 1955 until her death in 1999. The house, transformed into a museum, preserves the original atmosphere and furnishings, offering visitors an intimate and personal experience of the life of the “Queen of Fado”. At the entrance of the museum, visitors are welcomed into an environment that seems suspended in time. Each room tells a part of Amália’s story through a collection of personal objects, stage costumes, awards, and photographs. For example, the kitchen is a place that reflects the singer’s daily life, with her parrot Chico still welcoming visitors with a warm “good morning”. Amália, in fact, owned several parrots, all named Chico, and the last of these continues to live in the house, keeping the memory of the singer alive. The dining room is decorated with cherry paintings, in reference to Amália’s birth in the “cherry season”, a period she celebrated with two birthdays: July 23, the official date, and July 1, a date she chose to extend the birthday celebrations. This detail, along with the festive arrangement of the table, offers a lively picture of the celebrations and conviviality that characterized her private life. One of the most fascinating rooms is the living room, where Amália met with artists, poets, and musicians of her time. This space hosted illustrious figures such as Vinicius de Moraes, with whom she recorded an album in 1968. The furnishings, guitars placed on the piano, and the singer’s famous black shawl, are all elements that tell the story of a life dedicated to music and culture. The “Poets’ Room” is another point of interest, housing Amália and her husband César Seabra’s personal library. Here, visitors can find a vast collection of books, including works by poets like Ary dos Santos, whose poems were often interpreted by Amália. The room also reflects the singer’s interest in literature and poetry, offering a glimpse into her cultural and intellectual background. The Amália Rodrigues Foundation, established at the singer’s request in 1997 and officially founded in 1999, aims to preserve and promote fado and Portuguese culture. The foundation supports various social solidarity projects, promotes young fado artists, and offers scholarships and support to cultural institutions. An interesting anecdote concerns Amália’s connection with Brazil and her collaboration with the Brazilian poet and musician Vinicius de Moraes. This collaboration not only enriched Amália’s repertoire, but also helped strengthen the cultural ties between Portugal and Brazil, two countries united by a common Lusophone tradition.