Even though our brand is a producer and distributor of handmade Mexican tiles, you should know that our designs are heavily influenced by classic European ceramic craft. If you think about the old-world charm of shiny, glazed tiles, what springs to mind is the city of Lisbon whose history and culture is deeply embedded with decorative tiles. One glimpse on our Talavera tiles collection let you discover many Portuguese style ceramic tiles with emblematic white and blue, delicate patterns. 

The Portuguese tiles, commonly known as azulejo, date back to the XIII century when the Moors invaded the land that now belongs to Spain and Portugal. Those two countries were the main manufacturers of decorative tiles made of clay, and it is their heritage that keeps alive in modern Mexican craft. Obviously, local tile market has evolved and incorporated the Mexican, artistic feel and the use of vivid and sometimes surprising color combinations. However, many Mexican rustic patterns are directly inspired by Mediterranean predecessors. 

The word azulejo comes from Arabic roots, meaning ‘small polished stone’. Originally, they were fairly simple structures cut into geometric shapes in neutral tones. Antique azulejos were decorated in a simple color palette, dominated by blues and whites. The other tones that appeared were yellow (sometimes looking gold) and green. Once Portuguese style ceramic tiles became popular, they started evolving from simple to ornamented and they were embellishing pretty much any area of public and private architecture, becoming pieces of public artwork. Tiling works left churches and royal residencies and started to be present in public parks, squares and most affluent streets. Something similar happened in Mexico and until now we can enjoy thousands of emblematic, Colonial landmarks trimmed by Mexican wall tiles, high relief tiles, and of course incredible tile murals.

Gaining in popularity, Portuguese style ceramic tiles inspired millions of homeowners and designers around the world. Therefore, if you want to look for some fine and elaborate ideas on how to enliven and upgrade your spaces, you must check out on the Internet examples of the use of the Portugues azulejo. From eye-catching home frontages and rustic kitchen backsplashes to hard-wearing benches and fountains, their application ideas are endless. One can clearly see the versatility of this kind of handcrafted tiles. Just watch some spectacular footages of peaceful and timeless whites and blues in bathrooms, kitchens, patios and gardens. Bring some neutral and cool tones with our decorative Mexican tiles that are influenced by the art, color scheme and unforgettable light of sunny Portugal.