Portuguese Decorative Arts: Crafts, Design & Tradition
Discover the material culture behind Portugal’s visual identity on this private tour of Portuguese decorative arts and craftsmanship. With an art historian as your guide, explore how Portuguese makers have worked with ceramics, textiles, wood, stone, metal and other materials, and how local traditions have been shaped by Portugal’s history and connections abroad. A closer look at the objects, techniques and craftsmanship that are easy to overlook when simply sightseeing.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Decorative Arts Museum
- We’ll meet at the Museu de Artes Decorativas Portuguesas (Portuguese Decorative Arts Museum), housed in the historic Azurara Palace in Alfama. It is a fitting place to begin our exploration of Portuguese craftsmanship, with its collection providing an immediate introduction to the materials, techniques and artistic traditions we’ll encounter throughout the tour.
Lisbon’s Tiled Facades
As we walk through the surrounding streets, we’ll look at Lisbon’s tradition of tiled façades and discover how and why azulejos became an integral part of Portuguese architecture.
Portuguese Calçada: Stone Pavements
We’ll look at Lisbon’s distinctive calçada portuguesa, from the famous pavement of Rossio to other examples along our route. We’ll explore how these small pieces of stone are arranged into patterns and how a practical paving technique became an important part of Portugal’s visual and urban identity.
São Roque Church
We’ll explore São Roque Church and its richly decorated interior, looking at the craftsmanship behind its carved wood, gilded decoration, paintings, tiles and other decorative elements. It is a particularly good place to see how different materials and artistic traditions came together in the decoration of Portuguese religious spaces.
Tram 18
We’ll take Tram 18, a traditional Lisbon tram, as we venture beyond the more touristy parts of the city. The ride takes us towards our next stop, while giving us a chance to experience one of Lisbon’s historic forms of public transport along the way.
Fábrica de Sant’Anna
We’ll visit Fábrica de Sant’Anna, where tiles have been made using traditional methods on the same site since the 18th century. A visit to the production area is subject to the factory’s availability and must be confirmed with them in advance; I will contact the factory to check whether a production visit can be arranged for your tour. If it is not available, we can still visit the historic factory building and shop, where you can browse the work and, if you wish, take a tile home.
Ending Point
Fábrica de Sant’Anna
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee
Fee for tram 18
Entrance fee to Decorative Arts Museum (10 euros per person)
Tour Important Information
*This is a walking tour with some uphill sections, as well as a ride on Tram 18. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
*We will keep a comfortable pace and adapt it to the group when necessary.
*The tour is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, due to the opening days of the institutions visited.
*A visit to the production area at Fábrica de Sant’Anna is subject to the factory’s availability and must be confirmed in advance.
*There will be time for a snack or lunch along the way, if you wish to stop.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Ines P.
Hi! My name is Ines and I would be thrilled to be your guide in the Lisbon area. I studied history of art, holding both a degree and a masters, and have 10 years of experience as a tour guide. I am passionate about art, architecture, history and culture. Whereas you want to enjoy the architecture highlights and hidden gems of the Lisbon area; explore the art scene being or contemporary art or Portugal’s unique crafts; or even combine history, art and indulging in gastronomy and wine tasting I am more than welcome to cater to your preferences.
I am also a mother of two young children, plus I have worked for more than 12 years as a museum and heritage educator so, I am very happy to create tours or adapt them to families travelling with children of all ages.
Reviews
Ricardo M.
“An Exceptional Guide — Inês Made Lisbon and Sintra Unforgettable”
If you are visiting Lisbon or Sintra, book Ines. She is extraordinary. We had the absolute pleasure of spending two days with Ines — one exploring Lisbon and another in Sintra — and she truly became one of the highlights of our trip to Portugal. Ines is incredibly knowledgeable, but what makes her exceptional is the passion behind that knowledge. She genuinely loves history, Portugal, and what she does, and her enthusiasm is contagious. She does not simply recite dates and facts; she tells stories, provides context, connects different periods of Portuguese history, and brings everything you are seeing to life. We learned an incredible amount without ever feeling like we were being given a history lesson. Some of us had visited Lisbon before while others were experiencing it for the first time, and Ines made the experience equally fascinating for everyone. Even those who already knew the city felt as though we were discovering it all over again. Our day in Sintra was equally memorable. Having Ines there transformed beautiful places into meaningful experiences because we actually understood the people, history, and stories behind them. Beyond her knowledge, Ines is simply wonderful to be around — warm, intelligent, funny, thoughtful, patient, and incredibly engaging. After two days together, she honestly felt less like our guide and more like a friend showing us the country and history she loves. We have traveled extensively and worked with many private guides over the years, and Ines is genuinely among the very best we have ever had. If you are considering a guide in Lisbon or Sintra, do not hesitate. Book Ines. She will completely elevate your experience. Thank you, Ines, for two unforgettable days. We feel very lucky to have met you!
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Ines P.
Dear Ricardo, I am truly lost for words reading your review. Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. I am deeply touched, and so happy that I was able to add to your experience and help make your time here so special. Your kindness, wonderful spirit, and fantastic company are exactly what make me love my job so much. Having the opportunity to share my dear Lisboa and Sintra with people who genuinely want to discover them, and to create memories that will stay with them, is always my goal. Thank you again for such a lovely review. It was an absolute pleasure having you here.
$420/ per group
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