It is said that, the paths of history that bring more people, customs and cultures together are some of the happiest events of mankind. This is the way the beauties of the world come into being, this is how nations are formed and stories are made up lasting for centuries.
The South of Spain and Portugal had encounters with remarkable cultures, during their history and the Moorish, Spanish, Portuguese, Etruscan, Roman mix brought its part of charm, creating together one of the most spectacular architectures, cultures and customs in the wide world.
It is here that you can admire one of the most beautiful details on ceramic tiles, real stories on façades, columns and building floors. At every corner of the street, on an archway or on the terraces, in the window of a stylish shop, or even on the asphalt, the ceramics seem to be an integral part of people`s lives, in the south-west of Europe.
The specific colors-dark blue, green, solar yellow, pure white-the intricate design with wonderful geometries, vegetal figures and models, absolutely genuine patterns are most of them of Moorish influence and give a unique  charm in the world, to this corner of Europe.
Azulejo, or the ceramic tiles began to achieve great prominence in Portugal, in the 16th century, when they started to import new techniques of finishing from Italy, therefore more elaborate solutions for installing them and new models.
As the Portuguese love “azulejo ”and look on them as one of their treasures “at sight” in their magical city, because you can see them even on churches and ordinary houses, in Lisbon, they decided to open a museum devoted to ceramics, in the former Madre de Deus Convent, which seems to have been
a kind of protector of the place.
The collections had been gathered since the 15th century until present day, with modern typologies and represent floral patterns, from mythology, religious or romantic ones. I was fascinated by the huge panels, so carefully worked out, but also by the porcelain and the faience, by all the history of the work processes and techniques, that speak about the vision, the skills, the patience and the cult for beauty of the ceramic masters in Portugal.
The building that houses the museum is impressive, too, designed in Renaissance and baroque style, with lots of ornaments.
So, if you want a tip on how to spectacularly decorate a room, take a sample of azulejo from the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, in Lisbon.

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