While driving through the sleepy village of Brejão in the Alentejo, we happened upon the most amazing street art painted on the side elevation of several houses. Curious to discover more I took several photographs and sent them to my Portuguese blogging buddy, Sami, in Oz.
Sami quickly identified the lady in the series of paintings as Amália Rodrigues known as Portugal’s greatest Fado singer.
The four pictures are in homage to the fado diva and represent different phases of her life. The final painting is Amália Rodrigues at the end of her career, singing while looking out to sea.
Why Brejão?
Brejão, is where Amália Rodrigues had her vacation home so she had a strong identity with the local area.
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The paintings, by street artist, SMILE, required ‘over 100 liters of plastic paint and up to 200 spray cans’ to complete. EAch painting is eight meters high and 15 meters long.
The challenge was launched by the Odemira Municipal Council, which, in partnership with the Cultural Association of Economic and Social Development of Brejão and the Amália Rodrigues Foundation, develops each year the program “Odemira, Recalls Amália” with a set of initiatives.
These paintings are and amazing tribute and well worth an visit.
This is my submission for Sami’s Monday Mural Challenge
(It’s now Monday where Sami lives)
Piglet in Portugal 
Portugal has the best murals, and some of the best graffiti artists in the world.
My uncle was a friend of Amália Rodrigues and I remember briefly meeting her at a party on a boat on the Tejo River in 1988. It was quite something 🙂
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I was hoping to get out and about around the back streets of various little towns and villages, to take more photos of the amazing street art but sadly I can’t walk far now.
I can imagine meeting Amália was an honour. I’d love to meet with Mariza. She also has personality as well as passion …
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Gret photos!
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Beautiful! So much talent there.
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Reblogged this on Spinster's Compass and commented:
I’ll be sharing photos from a few of my recent (and not so recent) trips soon. In the meantime, here you go.
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Love this. Thanks for sharing.
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they are so beautiful, and not vandalized! I just found a location of an interesting mural in Brussels and wanted to check it tomorrow, but in the meantime they vandalized half of it, so I guess I am not going there tomorrow. 😦
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Incroyable series of murals Carol, Amalia Rodriguez must have been so well loved, wonderful tribute ✨
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These are beautiful!
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These are fabulous!
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magnifique. Un bel hommage
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Fantastic! I would love to see these in person.
And I liked the added facts on the amount of paint
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I don’t know where you are located, Debbie, but there is also a beach named after Amelia. And if you are feeling hungry two seafood restaurants in the area.
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All I can say is “Wow!”. Or… beautiful, what a tribute!
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WoW! is exactly what we said when we saw them 🙂
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Glad I could help 🙂 The murals are beautiful and such a great tribute to the much loved Fado singer.
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Due to the location i never joined the dots as to who it was. Thank you!
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Oh that’s great. I love Amalia and I like the murals!
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Yes, it is certainly an original tribute. I also love her music.
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Absolutely marvelous and how spotlessly clean the place looks.
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Yes, it does! It was quite a find and the street art seemed so out of character with a typical Portuguese village
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…bright and sunny!
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Very intriguing way to use street art! It’s so often very spontaneous and in-the-moment, and this is so calculated.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
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Yes, rather a novel idea to use it as a tribute
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