Azulejos Tiles

A client who recently visited Casa Calma luxury villa in Belmont, near Alvor, has emailed me with a question about the tiles that bedeck the insides and outsides of so many buildings, from churches to houses, in the Algarve. I get asked about them quite a lot, so I thought I’d share the answer with everyone.

The tiles are called azulejos and they date back to the time when Portugal was ruled by the Moors. There are a few theories as to the meaning of the word azulejos, but I think its link to the Moorish word for small polished stone – Al Zuleique – makes most sense. Take a visit to the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, which dates back to the 14th century, and you’ll see just how much part of Moorish culture these types of tiles are.

There is also some debate about when azulejos first arrived in the Algarve, and Portugal in general, but it is well documented that their use increased sharply following an earthquake
in Lisbon in 1755. The tiles were found to be effective as damp proofing for houses, and as a result, they were used increasingly, not just in the capital but across the country, to cover buildings.

Take a trip into any Portuguese town in the Algarve, such as Lagos, which is just a short distance from one of our luxury villas, Flor De Lis, and wander the streets and you’ll find plenty of examples of azulejos, whether covering an entire house front or as a plaque marking a piece of local history.

Azulejos are still made today and are beautiful as ever, but they are used more for decoration: in kitchens, bathrooms, around mirrors and BBQ areas, etc. It’s interesting that people notice these tiles so much when visiting the Algarve – something that grew popular for rather functional reasons has become something of a symbol of the region’s charm.

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Portugal, contact Libby on +44 1243 514970 or libby@premiervillas.net.