Azulejo. Art of Portugues tiles making.

In Portugal, tiles (azulejos) reminiscent of the influence of the Moors during the Middle Ages were - and still are - used here to a far greater extent than in most other European countries. Throughout Portugal, in streets, on façades and inside buildings, there are tiles that represent the different styles and languages of times past and present and fill any visit to the country with colour.

Originating from the Arabic term al-zuleique meaning “small, smooth and polished stone”, the production of tiles in Portugal on a national scale began at the end of the 15th century.

However, it was not until the 18^th century that tiles began to “invade” churches, palaces, houses, gardens, fountains and staircases. Based on geometric patterns and telling the life story of saints or using secular themes such as the fables of La Fontaine, sometimes using captions like an early type of cartoon, tiles became the main feature of Portuguese decoration.

Following a notable resurgence in popularity in the second half of the 20th century, tiles are now prominent again in public art, and it is a must to visit the Lisboa underground stations where works by great Portuguese artists such as Vieira da Silva or Júlio Pomar are on permanent display.

Situated in the convent of the Madre de Deus Church in Lisboa, the National Tile Museum houses a magnificent collection of tiles, of which the outstanding feature is a priceless blue and white mural depicting a panoramic view of the city of Lisboa before the earthquake in 1755. Here, it is possible to see the historical, technical and artistic development of the tile in Portugal, from the 15th century until the present time.

by visitportugal