azulejos

Azulejos are tin-glazed ceramic tiles, typically square, used to decorate walls, floors, fountains, and patios. They are especially associated with Portugal and Spain, but have a broader Iberian heritage and influence in former Portuguese colonies. The term azulejo comes from the Arabic al-zulayj, reflecting their Moorish origins, and the tin glaze that gives a white, glossy surface suitable for painting.

The ceramic tradition began in the Iberian Peninsula under Islamic influence, evolving in the Christian territories from the 15th century onward. Portuguese azulejo workshops developed distinctive styles, combining Moorish arabesques, Christian iconography, and later European motifs. By the 17th and 18th centuries, blue-and-white palettes became prominent, along with polychrome schemes, and large decorative panels known as painéis that tell scenes or present commemorative emblems. In Spain, azulejos also appear in Andalusian and Castilian contexts, often in churches, palaces, and public buildings.

Manufacture involves shaping earthenware tiles, applying a tin glaze to create an opaque white surface, and painting with mineral pigments before a high-temperature firing. Blue is commonly produced with cobalt, while other colors use copper, iron, or manganese. The resulting glazed tiles are durable, water-resistant, and suitable for exterior use in humid climates.

Common uses include wall coverings in churches, monasteries, and urban façades, as well as interior patios and fountains. Azulejos function as decorative art, architectural surface, and historical record, with regional variations in motif, color, and composition continuing to be produced and preserved in contemporary practice.