A Day in the Life of Portuguese Tiles & Street Art

Though Portugal is probably most recognized for the blue on white tiles (Azulejos) that decorate the outside of churches, these tile panels (Ferreira das Tabuletas) did not become fashionable until the 19th century

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azulejo

We call the panel above the Jesus kite

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Some more traditional types are shown below including how tiles are getting incorporated into street art (in part because the tiles usually are allowed to stay and not painted over)

Part of the beauty in the hand-painted tiles is their imperfections that still create a pleasing whole

Though some are more perfect, especially the one below

This one works so well because it does not have to match the tiles on all four sides

Age too adds to the interest

If I had these tiles I would have artists fill in the white spaces

This one is way more modern though still trimmed in traditional

These tiles are unusual as they are actually part of the side walk

Some random street art tiling on a condemned building

A close up of one

This has always been one of my favorite street art tiles

Recently there have been tiles honoring the sidewalk plants that sprout up before they are torn back out again

Somewhere I have pictures of similar tiles nearly obscured by the plant they portray

Another favorite

And to finish, these textured tiles are also among my favorites

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If you want to see more Portuguese tiles see last year's post:

https://imgur.com/gallery/s3HTyCh