Portuguese Tile

Almost every image of every place along this river includes a tile panoramic view.  I love this art of tiles

http://www.csmonitor.com/1991/1115/15181.html

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/25/travel/shopper-s-world-vibrant-tiles-from-portugal.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azulejo

"Another type of azulejo composition, called aves e ramagens ('birds and branches'), came into vogue between 1650 and 1680. They were influenced by the representations on printed textiles that were imported from India: Hindu symbols, flowers, animals and birds."

http://www.hansvanlemmen.co.uk/azulejos-of-portugal/

http://www.csmonitor.com/1991/1115/15181.html


"These tiles have a long history going back to the Moorish occupation, incorporating influences from Spain, with the blue theme imported from Delft, Holland. They became a standard facing material in construction up until about a generation ago. What we discovered in Porto were several churches and public buildings wonderfully overlaid with these stunning blue tiles."
There is a photo of a tiled house on this blog
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/friesendm/28/1384210428/tpod.html