We only spent four days in Lisbon, two of which were Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day, so a lot of places were closed. We only got a taste of what Lisbon had to offer, but one thing that stood out to me were the amazing tiles that are everywhere in the city. (It’s also a shockingly-hilly place, which we were not prepared for!)
The tiles, called azulejos, fell out of favour in the early 1900s, because the cultural elite believed tiles were for poor people. Lisbon experienced a revival once they started designing the Metro in the 1950s. Nowadays, it’s used as a construction material as well as decoration. It’s a fascinating history.
The colour and the artwork on some of these tiles are incredible and it gives the city a unique feel to it. After visiting 15+ cities, it can be difficult to find something that surprises you. The novelty of new wears off.
But there are so many different designs that I kept saying over and over how beautiful each of them are. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before.
I only saw the azulejos under grey skies, but I would love to see them in bright, sunny, blue skies!
– Lauren
The Runaway Canadians 