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Lisbon · Museums

The National Azulejo Museum, known in Portuguese as the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, is an art museum devoted to Portuguese tilework. It stands at Rua da Madre de Deus 4 in Lisbon, inside the former Madre de Deus Convent, which Queen Leonor founded in 1509. The museum itself became an independent national institution in 1980. Its aim is to preserve and present the history and culture of decorative tiles across five centuries. Azulejos are painted ceramic tiles. They reached Portugal in the 15th century through the Moors, and the word comes from an Arabic term meaning "polished stone". The collection runs from the 15th century to the present and includes glazed tiles, porcelain and faience. Religious, mythological and historical scenes are arranged in chronological order. A separate area shows contemporary work, so tile art appears as a living tradition. The displays also explain how a tile goes from raw clay through cutting and glazing, and the exhibits carry English descriptions. The walls of the stairways are decorated with tiles as well. The highlight is a blue-and-white panorama of Lisbon's shoreline. It is 23 metres long and made of 1,300 tiles. It was made before the 1755 earthquake and was used as a guide to the city afterwards. It fills a large room that has seating. The convent church, built by King John III, is a Baroque space with carved cherubs, painted ceilings and gold leaf. The Chapel of Saint Anthony is lined with intricate tilework. The Café do Museu sits in a leafy courtyard, with vaulted ceilings and tiled columns, and it serves pastel de nata. The entrance leads from a small garden into a lobby and a gift shop, and restrooms are on site. The museum has ramps and lifts, though the church entrance has stairs. It lies a few minutes outside the city centre in a quiet neighbourhood, and bus 728 runs from Estação Sta. Apolónia. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. It is closed on Mondays, on 1 January, on Easter Sunday, on 1 May and on 25 December. A ticket costs €10, and Portuguese residents enter free on presenting the Citizen's Card. Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours, with extra time for the café and shop. An audio guide is available through the MNAz app. A guided tour lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, runs in English and Italian, and is wheelchair accessible. Comfortable shoes are advised because of the walking. Food and drink are not allowed in the exhibit areas, and photography is generally permitted.