National Tile Museum

National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo)

The National Tile Museum is located in the Convent of Madre de Deus, which dates from 1509. From its original structure only the lower floor cloister and the Arab room remain today. The church is covered with rich ornamental Baroque works of paintings, carving and tiles offered by royal patronage.

The collection, which virtually depicts the entire history of the tile in Portugal, includes tiles dating from the second half of the 15th century to contemporary artefacts already using new technologies. The highlights are the mannerist retable of Nossa Senhora da Vida and the Lisbon panel, 23 metres long, representing Lisbon before the 1755 earthquake.

It's open from Tuesday to Sunday but closed on some national holidays.