Alicatado tile

The Portuguese tiles are popularly known as ‘azulejos’ in the country and they are a very important part of Portuguese social and cultural life. From the pavements by the roads to churches and other important buildings, Portuguese tiles or azulejos are the premier objects of decoration and they are evidently visible in every corner of the country. The origin of these ornately designed tiles can be traced through the pages of history. It was the Moors who first introduced the definitive term azulejos in the Iberian Peninsula and in the following years Spanish influences also worked greatly in impacting the style and designs of the Portuguese tiles. These tiles are usually brightly colored and the designs include various kinds of geometric patterns as well as human figures.

There are various different kinds of Portuguese tiles and the Museu Nacional de Azulejo which is situated in the heart of the capital city of Lisbon display many such variants, some of which may have been imported initially from other nations. A popular variety is the alicatado tiles and these are among those Portuguese tiles that display beautiful and intricate geometric patterns. In fact these tiles are sliced into various geometric shapes and sizes after being polished and glazed properly. The tiles are known as alicatados and have derived their name from alicates which refers to the pliers used to chisel the tiles into various geometric shapes. After the tiles have been properly cut and polished, the surface of the alicatado tiles are smoothened thus making it suitable for placement. These alicatado tiles are extremely popular and are prevalently used in different parts of Portugal. They are more common as tiles used in floors of buildings, in pavements by the roadside etc. The alicatado tiles have evolved greatly in the recent times and a lot of care is taken to ensure the proper cutting and polishing of these tiles.