Xistopedia

“Martim Branco is at its most charming when it’s time to say goodbye”

“Martim Branco is at its most charming when it’s time to say goodbye”
art and culture
Fado ao Centro invoked the Song of Coimbra’s magic and enchanted the audience.

We find Jane and Roland, a German couple, on the terrace of Bem Me Quer, the restaurant that is part of the Xisto Sentido lodgings. It is the fourth time they have been to the Aldeia do Xisto, Martim Branco and have completely surrendered to the region’s charms. So much so, that they are looking for a house, a big one, with some land, so that they can settle down and invite their four children and friends to visit.

They discovered Xisto Sentido after a visit to Évora. They had been promised a comfortable bungalow overlooking a water feature. In reality, they got a small room with a view of little more than a puddle. Looking for an alternative, they expanded their search area and came across this accommodation, which has reinvigorated the Aldeia do Xisto village in recent years, and to which they keep returning. “It’s so nice”, says Jane. Roland nods in agreement, explaining then that he has been travelling to Portugal on business for about 20 years, but this is where they want to stay.

After a bit of a chat, they accept our invitation to the Fado show that is about to begin in the nearby Casa de Artes e Ofícios. In a show forming part of the Aldeias do Xisto Ciclo de Fado, the Fado ao Centro is performed in front of an almost full house. João Farinha, vocals, Diogo Passos, guitar, and Hugo Gambóia, Coimbra guitar, offer up their magic during a distinctive evening.

Each song is put into context, with moments that have marked the history of Portugal being recalled, such as the student movement in Coimbra at the end of the 1960s, or the emigration of thousands of people in search of a better life.


“Coimbra is a lesson” and the “Farewell Ballad” were not left out of the repertoire and got the audience humming along “Martin Branco is at its most charming when it’s time to say goodbye”, improvises João Farinha at the end. “Nice guys”, was heard from some members of the audience.

The show ended, but the audience remained. Norberto, raised in the village, took the stage to express gratitude for the initiative and the cooperation of all those who made it possible in Martim Branco.

But nothing in these parts is ever finished without the end being duly marked. So the musicians were summoned again to sing “one for the road (abaladiça)”. A challenge readily accepted. And it was only after the Song of Coimbra resounded once more that Fado ao Centro could really say its farewells.


“Happy?” asks João, who has lived in the village his whole life. “We are, are you?”, we asked back “ “I also I really liked it”, he said, before improvising a few rhymes, “I'm very chatty”, he tells us, before setting off in search of new listeners.

 

The satisfaction was, indeed, universal. “It’s a pleasure to sing in this area, one of the most beautiful in the country”, asserted João Farinha, who also highlighted the delicacies served during dinner at the Bem Me Quer. “Everything was delicious. I would recommend the oven-baked goat and the black pork cheeks”, he said.

The residents of Martim Branco were joined by those who come from there but live at a distance, and people from neighbouring villages, such as Padrão or Almaceda. Whenever we asked, the answer came back immediately: “It was great”.


Jane and Roland also left the venue happy. Besides the opportunity to listen to Fado, they found at least one contact to help them in their search for the perfect house.

explore

restaurants
Bem-Me-Quer
Bem-Me-Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
restaurants
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
restaurants
Casa da Ti Augusta
Casa da Ti Augusta
Figueira
restaurants
Varanda do Casal
Varanda do Casal
Casal de São Simão
restaurants
Callum
Callum
Oleiros
restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
restaurants
Fiado
Fiado
Janeiro de Cima
lodging
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casal Novo, Arganil
lodging
Mountain Whisper
Mountain Whisper
Gondramaz
lodging
Aldeia Oliveiras
Aldeia Oliveiras
Proença-a-Nova
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
lodging
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Caldas de São Paulo
lodging
Casa Cova do Barro
Casa Cova do Barro
Janeiro de Cima
lodging
Casa do Talasnal
Casa do Talasnal
Talasnal
lodging
Casas de Água Formosa
Casas de Água Formosa
Vila de Rei
lodging
Casa Lausus
Casa Lausus
Talasnal
offer
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
tour
Panoramic Road:   Aldeia das Dez - Sobral de São Miguel
Panoramic Road: Aldeia das Dez - Sobral de São Miguel
tour
Panoramic Road: Álvaro - Pedrógão Pequeno
Panoramic Road: Álvaro - Pedrógão Pequeno
village
Sobral de São Miguel
Sobral de São Miguel
offer
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
heritage
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
offer
Night Canoeing on the Santa Luzia Dam
Night Canoeing on the Santa Luzia Dam
heritage
Church of São Bartolomeu
Church of São Bartolomeu
heritage
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
tour
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 3 – The Footprint of the Ermit
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 3 – The Footprint of the Ermit
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
village
Ferraria de São João
Ferraria de São João
village
Figueira
Figueira

next events

event
Figueiró na senda das tradições
Figueiró na senda das tradições
15 oct 2024 - 30 nov 2024, 10:00
Figueiró dos Vinhos
event
Fundão, Aqui Come-se Bem - Sabores do Outono
Fundão, Aqui Come-se Bem - Sabores do Outono
18 oct 2024 - 10 nov 2024, 12:00
Fundão
event
Árvore de Natal Comunitária
Árvore de Natal Comunitária
30 oct 2024 - 21 nov 2024, 10:00
event
Voluntariado no Casal da Lapa
Voluntariado no Casal da Lapa
01 nov 2024 - 08 nov 2024, 10:00
event
XVIII Feira de Doçaria Conventual
XVIII Feira de Doçaria Conventual
01 nov 2024 - 03 nov 2024, 10:00
Figueiró dos Vinhos
event
Covilhã Creative Week
Covilhã Creative Week
08 nov 2024 - 14 nov 2024, 15:30
Covilhã
event
XII Reunião de Outono
XII Reunião de Outono
09 nov 2024, 09:00
event
Mostra de Artes e Sabores da Maúnça (Maunça Arts and Flavours Show)
Mostra de Artes e Sabores da Maúnça (Maunça Arts and Flavours Show)
09 nov 2024 - 10 nov 2024, 15:00
event
Feira do Porco e do Enchido de Meruge
Feira do Porco e do Enchido de Meruge
09 nov 2024 - 10 nov 2024, 15:00
Meruge
event
Trilho do Neveiro
Trilho do Neveiro
10 nov 2024, 08:00
event
Doze Meses, Doze Caminhadas: Olhar a Brama
Doze Meses, Doze Caminhadas: Olhar a Brama
10 nov 2024 - 01 dec 2024, 09:00
event
Magusto no Candal
Magusto no Candal
10 nov 2024, 12:00
Candal
event
Míscaros - Festival do Cogumelo 2024 (Mushroom Festival)
Míscaros - Festival do Cogumelo 2024 (Mushroom Festival)
13 nov 2024 - 17 nov 2024, 18:00
event
Moonlight Talasnal
Moonlight Talasnal
15 nov 2024 - 13 dec 2024, 20:30
Talasnal
event
METAMÓRṖHOSIS
METAMÓRṖHOSIS
16 nov 2024, 16:00
Góis
event
Feira do Mel e da Castanha
Feira do Mel e da Castanha
22 nov 2024 - 24 nov 2024, 18:00
Lousã
event
Santa Bebiana
Santa Bebiana
29 nov 2024 - 01 dec 2024
event
Retratos de Natal em Góis
Retratos de Natal em Góis
01 dec 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 00:00
Góis
event
Natal da Fantasia 2024
Natal da Fantasia 2024
01 dec 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 14:00
Figueiró dos Vinhos
event
Natal em Castelo Branco
Natal em Castelo Branco
06 dec 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 17:00
event
Penela Presépio 2024
Penela Presépio 2024
08 dec 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 10:00
Penela
event
O Natal do Xisto
O Natal do Xisto
08 dec 2024 - 23 dec 2024, 18:00
Aigra Nova
event
Natal Serrano 2024
Natal Serrano 2024
11 dec 2024 - 22 dec 2024, 18:00