azulejos
Azulejo (Portuguese: [ɐzuˈle(j)ʒu, ɐzuˈlɐjʒu], Spanish: [aθuˈlexo]; from the Arabic الزليج, al-zillīj) is a form of Iberian painted tin-glazed ceramic tilework. Azulejos are found on the interior and exterior of churches, palaces, ordinary houses, schools, and nowadays, restaurants, bars and even railway or subway stations. They are an ornamental art form, but also had a specific function, such as temperature control in homes.
There is also a tradition of their production in former Portuguese and Spanish colonies in North America, South America, the Philippines, Goa, Lusophone Africa, East Timor, and Macau. Azulejos constitute a major aspect of Portuguese and Spanish architecture to this day, and are found on buildings across Portugal, Spain and their former territories. Many azulejos chronicle major historical and cultural aspects of Portuguese and Spanish history.
In Spanish and Portuguese, azulejo is simply the everyday word for (any) tile.
Similar Artists