Lisbon’s Iconic Tiles: A Walking Tour with Context

Portuguese tiles, also known as azulejos, are a significant part of Portugal‘s colorful, ancient history. On this walking tour by architect and Context Travel expert, Bert de Muynck, you‘ll see some of Lisbon’s most famous architectural structures in the historical neighborhoods of Graca and Alfama. Along the way, you‘ll learn about the history of these tiles – whose blue color comes from cobalt pigments and was influenced by the porcelain designs of China’s Ming Dynasty – and find out why they‘re so ubiquitous in Lisbon, and almost everywhere in Portugal.

Our tour starts in front of the National Pantheon, also known as the Church of Santa Engrácia. From there you‘ll learn how azulejos arrived in Portugal, their many influences, and how they became a modern practice with everyday uses, including preserving the temperature inside homes and delaying the spread of flames in the case of a fire. You‘ll discover the story-telling tiles inside the Church of São Vicente de Fora, which boasts a staggering 100,000 tiles and constitutes the world‘s largest collection of its kind. You‘ll also visit Vila Sousa, a historic gem which is testament to the city‘s rich architectural heritage.

As you walk, you‘ll hear how Byzantine and Roman mosaics inspired the creation of azulejos. You‘ll find out about the cultural and historical connections between the Iberian Peninsula and the Arab world during the Middle Ages, and how this is reflected in azulejos. Bert will also tell you how ceramics production during the Industrial Revolution led to tiles and other ceramic objects becoming a part of day-to-day life in Portugal.

On this walking tour of Lisbon, you‘ll:

• Visit Convento da Graça, or Graça Convent, one of the oldest in Lisbon
• Learn about and touch some of the most ancient and famous azulejos in Lisbon
• Discover how Portuguese tiles are made, and how they maintain a constant dialogue with the past
• Roam up and down Rua de São Vicente to visit different tile makers’ studios and browse shops to learn about the city‘s rich tile-making heritage
• Delve into the techniques that have preserved Portugal‘s history on these exquisite canvases for centuries
• Marvel at the intricate religious tiles that illuminated the city’s spiritual and artistic sides
• Revel in breathtaking views over Lisbon, and see tiles in architectural settings like buildings, churches, and train stations
• Explore Alfama, Europe‘s oldest neighborhood, with a history that dates back to the Moorish period

By the end of this hour-long tour, you‘ll have a deeper appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship behind Portuguese tiles, or azulejos.