Portuguese tile after 1755

The Portuguese tiles are one of the most prominent features of Portugal and their popularity has increased manifold in the recent years. These tiles are evidently visible in different parts of Portugal in churches and buildings as decorative pieces and even on the pavements by the roadside. It is to be noted that these Portuguese tiles referred to as azulejos derived this name from the Arabic term az-zulavi which refers to a form of refined stone. Portugal has had a very rich history and its interaction with various civilizations resulted in varied cultural influences. The idea of the azulejos was adopted from the Moors who introduced it in the Iberian Peninsula and in the later years Spanish influences also impacted their development. These beautifully colored tiles are testimony to the creative pursuits of the Portuguese artists.

In Portugal, the blue and white azulejos are the most prevalent in different parts of the country and these designs were introduced by a Spaniard named Gabriel Del Barco. These blue and white azulejos were extremely popular and they were used widely in the different parts of Europe. Such were the popularity of these blue tiles that many considered that the term azulejo originated from the prominence of these blue tiles since the term azul means blue. However this is an incorrect assumption and azulejo has a more primitive origin. But after the earthquake of 1755, there was a return of the early brightly colored tiles. It was also during this period that the Portuguese realized that these tiles were resistant to the extreme weather conditions and they were waterproof. Thus they served to cool the indoors of households during summers while keeping the inside warm in the cold winter months. Therefore the Portuguese tiles also serve various other purposes apart from serving as ornate and attractive works of art.