National Azulejo Museum: One of the Most Colorful Lisbon Cultural Attractions

Azulejos are clay tiles, painted and covered with glaze, considered to be a traditional decorative material in Portugal and Spain. It came to Spain from Arab countries in the 15th century. 

Traditionally, the tiles were colorful, but when the fashion for Dutch tiles spread across Europe in the 17th century, the azulejos also changed and still remain more often two-color white and blue. 

Azulejos can still be seen in the oldest monasteries in the country. Many eastern countries also use them, and if you have ever seen mosques lined with beautiful brightly painted glazed tiles, then this is the prototype of azulejos.

Traditional Portuguese azulejos are kept in the museum, located in the historical building of the Monastery of the Mother of God (Mosteiro da Madre de Deus), a perfect destination in terms of walking tours in Lisbon, Portugal. 

An old 16th-century monastery has an interesting history, because, in addition to the function of the monastery, it also became a place where you can see unique tile paintings from antiquity to modern times, brought from different countries.

The museum allows the visitor to contemplate a diverse collection of tiles, with products from different eras dating back more than 500 years to the present day. The museum itself is divided into several halls, visiting each of them you can understand the history and stages of development of this ancient art form.

The building also has majestic decoration, with most of the walls covered in hundreds of azulejos. The visitor can also see the Igreja Madre de Dues church through the glass, as shown in the photo. The decoration of gilded wood carvings is impressive.

This is perhaps one of Lisbon's lesser-known museums, and because it is located further from the historical center, outside the Baisha-Chiado area, it is often missed by tourists passing through Lisbon. 

But it is undoubtedly one of the most important museums in Portugal and is worth a visit anyway. This is an excellent program for day trips from Lisbon for the whole family and a unique place to feel the atmosphere of that time and see it through the eyes of a master.

Today, the Church of Madre de Deus is an integral part of the National Tile Museum, an important repository of the memory of Portuguese culture, and a notable place in the list of things to visit in Lisbon. The location is a perfect choice for everybody who is looking for a non-standard tourist program. 

The museum keeps an extensive collection that explains how tiles are made, their history, trends, and other important aspects related to this decorative and symbolic element.