What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about Portugal? Not all know the correct term for these amazingly aesthetic tiles but everybody sees them in front of their eyes when they try to find thing to associate with this country. To be honest Lisbon doesn't need any art museums while having its buildings walls as an art exhibition themselves.
But let's come to terms, let's talk that dictionary. What does Azulejo mean?
This architectural accessory has a brief history starting back in the 13th century and it has Arabic roots. Seeing this glamorous decorative element in the Muslim architecture the Portuguese kings were opting for that luxurious look in their palaces and before they knew it it became a staple for the traditional Portuguese image. Originally they came in very natural colors and were designed in a very simple geometrical shape.
Using a very simple, mostly duo chrome color palette dominated mainly in blue and white hues was popular at the time.
Just like most cultures, Portugal likes to tell its stories on their walls and on their facades. After a while the geometric forms were alternated by picturesque paintings telling stories about the Portuguese history.
It is not just for exterior, the Azulejo tiles play a big role in the interior design too. Especially after they got known, people started to use them more and more to an extent that not just (architecture, tradition and culture wise) important buildings used them like churches and monasteries but you could discover them on restaurant, bar, metro station walls and even in the house of the everyday people to.
In these days you don't have to visit a specific city or town to find these magical "small, smooth stones" as the world of Portugal started to embrace it in every city and one thing for sure - it won't go out of the Portuguese style anywhere any soon.
