The Lisbon Tile Museum is a little off the beaten track and this is unfortunate as it is one of the most unique attractions to be found in the City of Lisbon. The museum houses a collection of azulejos (decorative ceramic floor tiles), and also documents its history, the production of the tiles and their use as a form of art. This dated back to the 15th Century.
The Tile Museum is unique for one very good reason; it houses the only collection of its kind in the world. The museum is housed on the old Madre de Deus Convent, which was entirely rebuilt and renovated following the Great Earthquake. The result is a building which is arguably the one of the finest examples of contemporary Portuguese décor to be found anywhere in Lisbon.
The very first examples of azulejos as a form of art in Portugal date back to 1503, and the museum encompasses the entire time frame form their first use, up to reproduction azulejos in the present day.
Visitors will see how the original azulejos art would follow a very geometrical style, very Moorish in look. As the art form evolved the azulejos were used to portray more natural themes, including landscapes. Eventually a Gothic theme took over, which eventually lead to a Renaissance style. All of this can be seen, up close, as you trace the evolution of this intriguing art form
Highlights of the Tile Museum
The actual building which is home to the museum is one of the real highlights of a visit. Especially the Chapel of St. Anthony, which is impressively opulent and quite breath-taking.
When it comes to actual exhibits, the highlight is an incredible mosaic which is made of up over 1,300 separate blue and white tiles. The mosaic is some 23 meters in length, the longest to be found in Portugal, and depicts the cityscape of Lisbon, as it was in 1738 before the Great Earthquake change it entirely.
Although the large mosaic mentioned above is the most impressive, there are far more attractive, if less imposing works to be viewed. Due to the traceable evolution of this type of art, there is bound to be something to please everyone. From simple geometric patterns to renaissance masterpieces.
The Tile Museum for Families
Surprisingly, the Tile Museum is fairly family friendly. This is due to the interesting way the exhibits are displayed. Additionally, many of these which are depicted would be of interest to young children. However, as with most historically focused museums, toddler and infants will probably find little to hold their attention.
The Tile Museum Opening Times
The Tile Museum is open on Tuesday from 2pm until 6pm and from Wednesday through to Sunday from 10am until 6pm. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Getting to the Tile Museum
The Tile Museum is located at:
Rua Madre de Deus, 4
Lisbon
Due to it's slightly out of the way location, it is best to travel by taxi. However, there is a bus stop close by, the bus can be caught from Comercio Square.
