Lisbon, with its rolling hills, is a city of contrasts, where the light of the River Tagus meets the sound of Fado. Fado is the soul of Lisbon, a reflection of the history and emotions of its inhabitants.

Born in the humble alleys and taverns of Alfama and Mouraria at the beginning of the 19th century, Fado was an expression of the pains and loves, in the form of songs, of the people of the town, sailors and bohemians.

Fado is inseparable from Lisbon. It’s as if the cobblestones lining the neighbourhoods retain the nostalgia of those who have passed through, holding stories of lives marked by distance, loss, love and hope. This longing becomes a song that echoes in the Fado houses.

Amongst the trendy bars and alternative shops of Bairro Alto, there are Fado houses such as A Severa, where the past meets the present and the musical tradition is kept alive.

Founded in 1955, A Severa is an icon of Bairro Alto’s fado tradition, named after Maria Severa, one of the first and most famous fado singers in Portugal’s history.

When you visit A Severa, you’re taking part in a story that spans generations and a story that Lisbon tells.