Tile Museum
"The tile museum is easily reached by public bus or Tuk tuk ride. The tiles on display are masterpieces from a bygone era in tile making and are well worth a visit of 1-2 hours. One area of the museum is reserved for the restoration of tiles where workers carefully clean both the front and back of the tiles. If any tiles are broken, the workers attempt to put the pieces back together. If I could go back in time, I would have bought one of the unique new tiles that were available for purchase at the gift shop." Larry. (Please click on the picture of the slide to view it in full screen.)
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At the cathedral we arranged for a Tuk Tuk to take us to the Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo) following a scenic route with views. Ironically the driver took us to Largo Portos del Sol where we had been with Cristina earlier. It is the plaza with the scenic views accross from the Museum of Decorative Arts. The Largo Portos del Sol has the statue of Saint Vincent and the church of Santa Luzia. From the Largo we were only able to see the back of the church and the side as we descended down the steps into the side streets of the Alfama. However the Tuk Tuk driver took us to the front of the church with its beautiful courtyard and the 18th century blue and white azulejo panels depicting the pre-earthquake Praca do Comercio and the reconquest of Lisbon from the Moors by Afonso Henriques on the side of the church. We then drove through the side streets down through the commercial part of the harbor to the museum. After visiting the museum we returned by bus (the stop is located in front of the museum) that took us directly with only a few stops to Rossio Square. We walked to the hotel from there.
