In the heart of Mouraria you will find Largo da Severa, named after Maria Severa Onofriana , prostitute and singer, who according to the many accounts from the era made a huge impression on her entourage, mostly on men, in her very short life According to certain theories on its origin, fado is a genre tinged with influences from overseas. This is reflected as a recurrent theme in fado lyrics. The first fados would have appeared in the 19th century in the Moorish district of Mouraria, which back then, as well as more recently, was characterized by prostitution, a strong migrant community, and poverty.
Especially the one she had with the Duke of Vimioso, D. Francisco de Paula de Portugal e Castro , who was completely enthralled by her singing and guitar-playing. The genre also gained a status it never had before. Severa became an incarnated form in fado, still very much alive nowadays. Many tales were told about her, where myth and truth are hard to differentiate.
But written contemporary accounts of her existence are scarce:. The poor girl was the most interesting fadista, like Mouraria will never have again! It will be difficult for another Severa to appear, haughty and impetuous, so generous as ready to punch the face of whoever would act rogue on her! Brave, full of affection for the ones she cared for, as well as rough to her enemies, She was no ordinary woman, you can be sure of that.
Writer Luis Augusto Palmeirim only met Severa once, but it was enough for him to. She was a rather swarthy, thin, nervous woman, remarkable for her magnificent peninsular eyes. If I remember correctly, she was a slender attractive girl, lush dark hair, with a casual allure without exceeding the conveniences of her position towards who was helping her, dressed clean but modestly, not reminding us of the disgrace of the class which misery more than vice has pushed her into and whose shyness made her look uneasy in the social milieu she found herself there.
This absence of details about her life and appearance adds to the aura of mystery surrounding her. She was buried in a mass grave in Alto de S. Lisb-On , thaks to JardimSonoro, was a balanced blend of local and international talent with a laid-back vibe.
