Activity Lisbon, Portugal

The Portuguese Tiles

5.0 (37 reviews) 3 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

37 reviews

5.0

S. John Baptist Chapel Lisbon — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

XXI Century Tiles — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

The Tiles (azulejo in Portuguese) is one of the strongest cultural expressions in Portugal.

With this tour we'll check, mostly outdoors, tiles artworks from the 16th till the 21st century.

It's a special opportunity to meet Lisbon in a totally different perspective.

I'll tell you unique stories and we'll visit unexpected places. The itinerary is about tiles but never dissociated of the history and the stories.

To end the tour we will have the opportunity to taste a codfish cake.

Expect the Unexpected

Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Cultural Tours Walking Tours Small Group Low Supplier Cancellation Rate Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 3 h 30 min
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 9 people
People per booking: 1–9
Guide: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
Operated by: Lisbon Experience

Ages: Adults (10–80 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Admission Included

Itinerary

Casa do Alentejo

10 min

This is a house full of history. Once an aristocratic house, it was remodeled in the 19th century to house Lisbon's first casino. Here we will find a decoration with a Moorish influence, very much in keeping with the romanticism of the time. This will be the starting point for a journey over Lisbon's tiles.
Convento De Sao Pedro De Alcantara

15 min

At the church of S.Pedro de Alcântara we will discover the beginnings of the blue and white tile in Portugal. This church houses tiles from the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century.
Igreja de Sao Roque

15 min

In this church we will discover the oldest tile panels in Lisbon in situ. These are signed 16th century panels and mark the transition from the Moorish tradition to a Portuguese brand tile.
Stop 4

5 min

The oldest brewery in town totally covered with XIX century tiles
Stop 5

5 min

Here we will appreciate a 19th century tile façade with Masonic motifs. We will get to know the history of the man behind this iconic Lisbon façade
Stop 6

5 min

This is the oldest bookstore in the world still in operation and the luxurious facades of the building that houses this bookshop are covered with blue and white tiles from the 19th century.
Stop 7

10 min

Alcôa is an iconic pastry shop in Lisbon, but it was once a lottery shop and it was in this context that it was covered with a ceramic piece by one of the greatest Portuguese potters of the 20th century.
Praca Dom Pedro IV

10 min

The most important square in Lisbon, plenty of history and stories.
Viuva Lamego

10 min Admission included

This place was the site of one of the two most important tiles' factory in Lisbon. These days it's their showroom.
Stop 10

20 min

A store that is almost a museum, where you can enjoy tiles from almost every era.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Right in front Hard Rock Café Lisbon

End point

The main tile factory in Portugal had its facilities here in this square until the end of the 20th century. This square is home to one of the largest and most interesting sets of tiled facades in Lisbon.
This square has always been the central square of Lisbon. Rossio is the popular name of this square and it means meeting point of the people.