Origin of the Portuguese tiles

Portugal is located within the continent of Europe and it can be recognized as one of the most prominent and developing countries in that part of the world. It is interesting to note that Portugal boasts of a very rich history and since the ancient eras, the interaction with various civilizations resulted in the formation of a very enriched and diversified culture within Portugal. One of the prevalent examples of this cultural growth can be observed among the architecture of Portugal, especially in the Portuguese tiles. These Portuguese tiles, popularly referred to as azulejos are usually brightly colored stones and are painted with intricate designs and look extremely ornate and attractive. These azulejos or tiles display various subjects like historical events of the past, human characters and also simple geometric designs apart from serving as signs and number plates.

It is necessary to note that the origin of these tiles is not indigenous to Portugal and the entire idea of painting and designing tiles is an import from the Islamic world. In fact it is evident in the origin of the term azulejo which is believed to have been derived from the Arabic term az-zulavi or according to some al-zulej which refers to a kind of polished or refined stone. The origin of these tiles can be attributed to ancient Egypt which was popularly known as Mesopotamia and it traveled from Egypt to the Iberian Peninsula through the Moors. The most prominent tile producing center happened to be in the region of Seville located in Spain and this is one of the reasons why Portuguese tiles are said to be greatly influenced by Spanish designs since the 15th and 16th centuries. Over the years however these ornate tiles have become synonymous with Portuguese social and cultural lives and can be observed as part of all architectural constructions in the country.