Azelujos (tile art) is an integral part of Portuguese society and culture. Azelujos decorate buildings, park sets, street signs, important monuments, fountains and anything with a flat surface across Portugal. Mosaics tell stories, record history and celebrate events throughout the country.
If you want to get a taste for how tiles are made visit here:
Loja dos Descobrimentos – This shop is a genuine Portuguese handicraft shop where you can see various hand painted ceramics from a number of regions in Portugal but you can also see artisans working on tiles and you can even have a piece custom-made. My visit to this shop was an ideal introduction to the art of tile making. I particularly liked seeing the process on a micro scale to get a bit of an idea of the process. Well worth a visit.
If you seriously want to see how Portuguese ceramic tiles are made, visit here:
Fabrica Sant’Anna – this factory has been producing ceramics and tiles since 1741. You can take a guided tour of the factory that takes you through the entire ceramic making process.
If a Portuguese tile museum is more your style, visit here:
The national tile museum, Museu do Azulejo, is housed in a magnificant building from the 1500’s. The museum showcases the art and production of tile from the 15th century to the present.
If you’d like to see Portuguese tiles in action, go here:
Palacio dos Marqueses de Fronteira, Fronteira Palace, built in 1640, is located in the suburb of Benfica. This palace is most famous for spectacular formal gardens and is considered the most important place to see fabulous tile work. Much of the interior and gardens are covered in colourful tiles and tile scenes. The Room of Battles has been famously called “the Sistine Capel of Tilework”.
Also recommended by Lisbon Lux are: Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora; Palácio Nacional de Sintra; Convento dos Cardaes; Palácio Pimenta; Palácio Nacional de Queluz; Largo do Palácio – Queluz