Where to see the best azulejos in Porto

Azulejos, painted ceramic tiles, are everywhere in Porto: on churches, railway stations, shops and ordinary houses. The finest are blue and white, and many tell stories in huge pictures made of thousands of tiles. Here is where to see the best.

1. São Bento Station

The entrance hall of São Bento is lined with around 20,000 tiles by Jorge Colaço, showing scenes from Portuguese history and country life. Entry is free.

2. Capela das Almas

A small chapel on Rua de Santa Catarina whose outer walls are completely covered in blue and white tiles showing the lives of saints.

3. Igreja do Carmo

The side wall of this baroque church, next to the university, is covered in a vast tiled panel added in the early 20th century. It is one of the most photographed walls in the city.

4. Igreja de Santo Ildefonso

At the top of Rua de Santa Catarina, this 18th-century church has a tiled façade showing scenes from the life of its patron saint, also by Jorge Colaço.

5. Porto Cathedral cloister

The Gothic cloister of the cathedral is lined with baroque tile panels. A ticket is needed to visit.

6. The streets

Look up as you walk: many ordinary houses in the old town and Bonfim are faced with patterned tiles in every colour, which protect the walls from the rain.

Tips

• Churches often close at lunchtime. Visit in the morning or late afternoon.
• Never take tiles from buildings. Buy them from shops selling new or reclaimed tiles instead.
• A walking tour links most of these sights in a few hours.