13 June 2019

Azulejos – a quintessential part of the Portuguese heritage

There are few things more Portuguese than Azulejos – the traditional ceramic tiles all over the country.

For centuries, the Portuguese have used tiles to decorate their churches, palaces, subway stations, private houses, or restaurants on the inside and outside walls. With simple or more intricate patterns, blue, white, yellow, or multicolored, Azulejos bring out the beauty of the buildings on which they are added, and their enchanting charm will definitely catch your eye.

However, aside from being just a visual treat, Azulejos shaped Portugal’s cultural and historical heritage, telling its story to the present day.

Arabic Roots

The word “Azulejo” is thought to have come from Arabic and means “small polished stone.” In the 13th century, decorating palaces with colorful mosaics was common in the Arab World. Later, in the 14th century, this technique reached the Iberian Peninsula, through the Moorish invaders.

When a Portuguese King falls in love with a Moorish tradition

Portugal’s King Manuel I brought this technique to his country after a visit to Andalucia. Amazed by those colored tiles, he decided to get them to Portugal, and this is how a new era in decorating started. Over the years, Portugal became the main client of the Spanish pottery workshops. It was a new artwork embraced by the Portuguese that will define the country’s cultural heritage from now on.

With profound Moorish influences, the first Azulejos (13th to 15th century) had simple geometric patterns and were usually glazed in neutral colors. Portuguese introduced the Azulejos and the Arab concept of “fear of empty spaces”—an idea that made them cover entire walls and floors in tiles. The Arabic Room in Sintra Palace is an excellent example of where these first types of Azulejos can be seen.

First pottery workshops in Portugal

The first pottery workshops appeared in Lisbon in the second half of the 16th century. Portuguese started to produce Azulejos using the faience technique imported from Italy. More and more workshops were expanding their tile production to meet the increasing demand from the nobility and clergy. Now, Azulejos often have religious themes, and many mosaics consisted of white tiles surrounded by blue tiles. There was a flourishing time for the Azulejos industry.

Pattern Azulejos

Floral, decorative, and religious motifs were frequently used, with mosaics depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament. Other than that, Azulejos with a repetitive pattern were representative of the 17th century. This also was when Dutch influences began to appear – blue and white tiles were in high demand.

The Golden Age of Azulejos

In the 18th century, the Azulejos industry was at its peak. This decorative art was deeply embedded in Portugal’s cultural tradition, and beautifully decorated edifices bloomed everywhere. Rococo was the predominant style, and blue, white, and yellow were the most common colors.

But in 1755, a strong earthquake shook Lisbon, destroying many of the city’s buildings. As a result, aside from their decorative role, Azulejos also started to gain a functional purpose, being used as protection against future disasters.

Industrial production: a new urban landscape is born

Brazilian immigrants set in Porto, around 1840, the first ceramic factory where tiles could be mass produced. Using the relief shapes was a new technique to distinguish Northern Portugal’s tiles from Lisbon’s. In the meantime,
there was a growing use of Azulejos in decorating the facades of houses all over the country. A new urban landscape was born.

Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and the contemporary Azulejos

The first Art Nouveau and Art Deco influences appeared in the early 20th century. Later, in the 1930s, Azulejos tiles found a new home: the railway stations. One of the most distinguished panels can be found in Sao Bento Station in Porto.

The panel comprises over 20,000 tiles and represents King D. Joao and Queen Philippa’s grand entrance in Porto.

Underground stations also benefit from Azulejo decorations. Many of them in Lisbon and Porto have such panels, and one of the most remarkable ceramic artworks is located in Bolhao Market Underground Station (Porto).

Nowadays, the National Azulejo Museum in Lisbon houses the most extensive collection of Azulejos in the world. It’s an excellent place to learn more about their history and admire their beauty.

But there’s another museum where Azulejos can be found: the cities of Portugal. The streets are museums of time, and every building, church, wall, or subway station will tell you the story of Portugal’s love affair with Azulejos.