The beautiful tradition of tiles in Portugal
You've probably seen them in many social media posts about Portugal. They're its characteristic tiles, whose elaborate designs decorate the walls of many iconic buildings in the country.
The word Azulejo derives from the Arabic “Al-zuleique” or “Al-zillij”, which means “polished stone”, since the original idea was to imitate the Byzantine and Roman mosaic.
It was the Arabs who brought the technique to the Iberian Peninsula. From the 15th century onwards, tiles gained popularity in Portugal, "a country that adopted them in a unique way, like no other European country," the website notes. Visit Portugal.
The definitive boost came in the second half of the 16th century with the arrival of Flemish artisans, who brought their knowledge and experience with the new technique. This marked the beginning of tile production in Lisbon.
A magnificent example of the level achieved by the artists of the time, and one of the oldest examples that can still be seen in Portugal, is the altarpiece of Our Lady of Life (1580) currently on display at the National Tile Museum in the Portuguese capital.
“The multiplicity of solutions and offerings in Portuguese tiles with designs, from that period, has no parallel in other European productions,” says the page dedicated to the subject in Google Arts & Culture, which offers an excellent selection of images of the different types of styles that shaped the Portuguese identity of this element.
Portuguese tiles are undoubtedly a beautiful form of ornamental art, but they also had a specific functional capacity, such as temperature control in homes.
Today, we can find tiles not only inside and outside churches or old buildings: we also see them in bars, in Lisbon's metro stations – which features works by Portuguese artists such as Maria Helena Vieira da Silva o Julio Pomar– or in old train stations, like the one in São Bento, in Porto.
Perhaps at this point you're wondering: what can I do to see this beauty in person?
Living in Portugal, whether working remotely, with a contract from a local company, enjoying your retirement or thanks to your Portuguese passport: all these options are possible, although some depend on your ancestors.
For example: the grandchildren of Portuguese grandparents They are entitled to citizenship. You must provide documentation proving the status of your relatives, as well as your personal background; you must also demonstrate a basic level of Portuguese language proficiency.
You can live in Portugal as a Digital Nomad. To do so, you must prove that you have an income exceeding four times the Portuguese minimum wage. One incentive is that if you maintain legal residency in the country for five years, you can begin the naturalization process.
One detail to keep in mind: recently, Spain and Portugal were considered among the top 10 countries for remote workglobally. Furthermore, both countries are in the top 10 places to live as a digital nomad.
For those with stable passive income, The D7 Visa existsWhat is considered passive income? Income that does not come from employment, such as income from properties, investments, pensions, etc. The D7 visa is geared towards pensioners, and it is necessary to demonstrate stable passive income of at least €820 per year for 12 months.
Of course, there is also the option of residency by investment through the Golden VisaThis program, which in the case of Portugal is one of the most attractive in Europe, allows you to obtain citizenship in just five years without actually needing to reside in the country: you only need to spend 14 days every two years. After five years, you can apply for a passport. Investment options for this program start at €500.000.
If you want to find out more details about the options we've listed here, Request a meeting with our teamWe have experienced professionals in both Santiago, Chile and Lisbon, and we'll guide you through every stage of the process. Let AIM Global advise you and help you realize your dream of becoming a global citizen.
