“Azulejos are not tiles,” he said emphatically ... Azulejos first came to Portugal from Spain and Arab countries, and the name “is an Islamic word, meaning ‘a polished stone ...

First, the tiles are baked in an oven ... In the beginning, azulejos were produced outside of Portugal and tended to feature Islamic motifs like knotwork. Then, in the 16th century, when ...

Instead of erasing the Islamic aesthetic ... which still houses one of Europe's largest collections of Mudéjar tiles. The Portuguese soon innovated beyond Spanish influences, creating grand ...

Although there are few Islamic monuments in Portugal, five centuries of Islamic rule left deep traces in Portuguese language and culture. Last year, Lisbon's Islamic Community celebrated its 50th ...

Portugal’s stunning ceramic tiles wowed writer Amy Scherzer during ... show an early knowledge of science and mathematics as Islamic tradition discourages the depiction of living beings.

The bartender points me toward a staircase with a tiny placard: Almohad (Islamic) Quarter. Southern Portugal is scattered with Arab bastions, ruins, and names in popular holiday hamlets like ...