The Portuguese Tiles
Description
The Tiles (azulejo in Portuguese) is one of the strongest cultural expressions in Portugal. With this tour we'll check, mostly outdoors, tiles artworks from the 16th till the 21st century. It's a special opportunity to meet Lisbon in a totally different perspective. I'll tell you unique stories and we'll visit unexpected places. The itinerary is about tiles but never dissociated of the history and the stories. To end the tour we will have the opportunity to taste a codfish cake. Expect the Unexpected
Tour Options
Itinerary
This is a house full of history. Once an aristocratic house, it was remodeled in the 19th century to house Lisbon's first casino. Here we will find a decoration with a Moorish influence, very much in keeping with the romanticism of the time. This will be the starting point for a journey over Lisbon's tiles.
At the church of S.Pedro de Alcântara we will discover the beginnings of the blue and white tile in Portugal. This church houses tiles from the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century.
In this church we will discover the oldest tile panels in Lisbon in situ. These are signed 16th century panels and mark the transition from the Moorish tradition to a Portuguese brand tile.
The oldest brewery in town totally covered with XIX century tiles
Here we will appreciate a 19th century tile façade with Masonic motifs. We will get to know the history of the man behind this iconic Lisbon façade
This is the oldest bookstore in the world still in operation and the luxurious facades of the building that houses this bookshop are covered with blue and white tiles from the 19th century.
Alcôa is an iconic pastry shop in Lisbon, but it was once a lottery shop and it was in this context that it was covered with a ceramic piece by one of the greatest Portuguese potters of the 20th century.
The most important square in Lisbon, plenty of history and stories.
This place was the site of one of the two most important tiles' factory in Lisbon. These days it's their showroom.
A store that is almost a museum, where you can enjoy tiles from almost every era.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(35)
Wow! I loved tile before the tour, but I love tile even more now that I've learned so much about the craft and history of Lisbon's azulejos having seen so many up close. Miguel has an incredible breadth and depth of historical context, and the way we moved through the city seeing tiles was a delight, full of nooks and crannies that only a local could know, and timed in a way that was well-paced and covered a lot of ground. Besides seeing a wealth of tiles on the outside of buildings, we looked at tiles inside subway stations, in a coffee shop which was a former lottery stores, a restaurant which was a former brewery, not to mention churches, public buildings, and walls hanging with public art and political critique-- spanning hundreds of years of history, styles, and producers, including the recently-completed Zara Clothing store (all white tiles--gasp!). By the end I found myself able to distinguish the different eras, and even different producers (I've decided that Viúva Lamego is my favorite). This tour is a GREAT way to get a sense of Lisbon's rich history.
Thank you so much for this wonderful and detailed review! It was a real pleasure to explore Lisbon’s tiles with someone who was so curious and already loved azulejos. Knowing that, by the end of the tour, you could recognize different periods and even some of the producers is one of the best compliments I could receive. And I’m very happy that Viúva Lamego became your favorite! It is my favorite too. Thank you for joining me and for sharing your experience in such a generous way. I hope you can return to Lisbon soon! Miguel
This tour was a great way to experience my first full day in Lisbon. I learned so much and what I learned helped guide the rest of my trip in terms of restaurants and museums, etc Miguel was very kind and knowledgeable. We stopped at the world’s oldest bookstore and I learned so much about the tiles.
Thank you so much for your kind review! It was a pleasure to introduce you to Lisbon and its tiles. I’m especially happy that the tour helped you enjoy and plan the rest of your stay. All the best, Miguel.
This experience is definitely recommended for anyone who is really interested in learning about the various styles and history of Portuguese Tile. Miguel is clearly an art lover and is well versed in it's history in Lisbon. We learned a lot about the history of the city as well. He was very good about giving us the time we needed to walk along the streets. We had another appointment for the afternoon or we might have been able to spend more time at the tile stores. So much to take in! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Derice, for your kind words. It was a real pleasure to guide you through my beloved city and share my passion for Portuguese tiles. I hope you can return to Lisbon soon. All the best, Miguel.
I really can’t say enough good things about this tour and Miguel. As a guide, he is warm, enthusiastic, responsive to your requests and interests, and really goes above and beyond to ensure you are happy. Since I was his only client on the day of our tour, Miguel tailored everything to my personal interests, still making sure he imparted his knowledge along the way. He gave me recommendations for other things to do in the city and we even sat down to a wonderful lunch together so he could demonstrate the proper way to de-bone sardines. No promises you’ll get that treatment but what I can say is that you will leave your time with Miguel with a great feeling of time well spent. Obrigada Miguel!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. It was a real pleasure spending the day with you. Having the chance to adapt the tour to your interests made the experience enjoyable for me as well. Sharing Lisbon is always rewarding, but sharing a good lunch made the day even more memorable. Thank you for your curiosity, your great company, and your trust. I hope Lisbon has left you with many good memories, and if you ever return to Portugal, there will always be more stories, places, and flavours waiting for you. Thank you again, and all the best! Miguel
We had an incredible time with Miguel! His tour was our first stop in Portugal and helped us learn so much about the history of Lisbon. We can't imagine having started off any other way. Knowledgeable guide and amazing tour with so many recommendations. We never would have found the locations he showed us on our own.
Thank you so much, Kathryn, for your kind words. It was a pleasure to meet you and Ravi and to introduce you to Lisbon. I hope you are having a wonderful time in Portugal and enjoying your walk in the south. Wishing you both a fantastic journey. See you again one day.
Miguel was a great guide! Incredibly knowledgeable about Portuguese tiles, and excited to cater the tour to our interests and questions.
Thank you Simone for your kind words. Hope you have a great journey exploring my beloved country. I'm pretty sure you'll be back again. Cheers
Miguel is a knowledgeable, wonderful tour guide! We learnt a lot about the Portuguese art, culture, history and of course tiles. Thanks Miguel, we had a great day!
Thank you so much Amy for your kind words. It was a pleasure to guide you through my beloved city. Hope you'll have a wonderful trip along our southern coastline. Cheers.
An enjoyable and informative walk through downtown Lisbon. We saw tiles dating from the 1500’s through modern times. And lots of history too!
Thank you, Claudia, for your kind words. It was a pleasure to show you the details of this beautiful and historic city. See you soon.
He was very interesting with his knowledge. We learned a lot. We appreciated everything he told us about the tiles and the city.
Thank you so much, Diane, for your kind words. I’m very glad you enjoyed learning about Lisbon’s tiles and the city. It was a pleasure to share it with you.
A very competent guid led me through highly interesting places between past and present in Lisbon. I learned a lot about the history of tile in Portugal , its patterns and how to classify them in art history. Where it fit , there was additional information about the city's history. Everything mega friendly and tailored to the needs and especially without time pressure. It couldn't be better!
Thank you so much, Katrin, for your kind words. It was truly a pleasure to share Lisbon and the history of Portuguese tiles with you. I’m very happy you enjoyed the experience. Hope to see you again in Lisbon one day!
