This post is mainly dedicated to the joy that is the Azulejo. This is a form of Spanish and Portuguese painted tin-glazed ceramic tilework.
Ornate Azulejos are found everywhere – on churches, palaces, homes, restaurants, bars and even subway stations.
They are not only used as an ornamental art form but also act as a form of temperature control in homes, keeping them cool in the hot summers.
The word azulejo is derived from the Arabic az-zulayj meaning “polished stone”.
Seville became a hotbed for the tile industry with potters from Italy established workshops there in the 16th century.
Over the centuries the Spanish love affair with these highly decorative tiles has grown and grown until they are a ubiquitous sight around the country.
