At first, you might think a tile museum sounds exceedingly dull. But Lisbon’s National Tile Museum, the Museo Nacional do Azulejo, is a revelation.
It’s an art museum in Lisbon, dedicated to the azulejo, traditional tilework of Portugal and the former Portuguese Empire, as well as of other Iberophone cultures. Housed in the former Madre de Deus Convent, the museum’s collection is one of the largest of ceramics in the world.
Inside the museum, every inch is covered with azulejos. The exhibits are arranged chronologically from the Moorish-influenced tiles of the 16th century to abstract designs of the 20th century. The museum is still relatively secret because it’s outside central Lisbon. Most tourists are too busy in Alfama, Belem, or Sintra. This museum is often left off the must-see list, and, trust me, it shouldn’t be.
The permanent exhibition of the museum is displayed in the rooms of an ancient monastery and shows the history of tile heritage in Portugal from the 16th century till modern times. The church, the chapels of Saint Anthony and Queen Leonor, and the choir are parts of this exhibition as well.
Address: R. Me. Deus 4, 1900-312 Lisboa, Portugal
Hours: Opens 10AM Closes 5PM
Phone: +351 21 810 0340
