Portugal’s National Tile Museum is located in Lisbon and housed in the Madre de Deus Convent. One of Portugal's most distinctive art forms is the blue and white ceramics tiles known as azulejos. These tiles can be seen on the exterior of buildings throughout Lisbon. The one entitled Alfama is located in the Old Quarter, the Alfama District
Many of the tiles displayed in the museum illustrate everyday life and important events that shaped Portugal's history. The most interesting is the very large 1,300 tile cityscape made in 1738. Recall the city was destroyed in 1755 by an earthquake. Thus this cityscape is the only depiction of the city prior to the earthquake.
