On a hill above Belem, Portugal sits Sant'Anna Fabrica (Calcada da Boa-Hora 96),
the oldest operating Azulejos factory in Europe. This family-owned business is still making artistic tiles and ceramics by hand just as they did when it was
founded in 1741.
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| FABRICA SANT'ANNA |
The showroom is open daily and visiting this place is like going to a museum. There are hundreds of artistic tiles and ceramics on display and thousands more molds in the factory to choose from. They also make special designs per customer request. Less than 18 percent of the products sold remain in Portugal and the rest are shipped to customers all over the world. About 65 percent of the products are shipped to the United States. A replica of a panel that was specially designed for Barbara Streisand is on display in the factory.
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| SHOWROOM |
After visiting the showroom, I made a reservation to return another day for the factory tour where the original wood-burning kilns are still on display. The methods, materials, and tools used to make the impressive Azulejos haven't changed much through the years and it takes many months to complete an order. Using natural clay, the tiles and pottery are molded, cut, dried, baked, glazed, and painted by hand before the final baking. Each individual piece is checked manually for quality using the same techniques and high standards that they have been using for almost 300 years.
Skilled artists, sitting on small stools, were painting on
tiles the day we visited, each with a little paint cart sitting next
to them.
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| ARTISTS AT WORK IN FACTORY |
On my last day in Belem, as I take one more leisurely
walk to enjoy the colorful ceramic tiles that adorn the buildings, I have fleeting thoughts of returning someday to load up on Sant'Anna tiles to
decorate my own little Portuguese villa by the sea.
Related Post: Azulejos & A Vintage Tiles Shop in Faro, Portugal, October 12, 2016
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| THOUSANDS OF MOLDS STORED IN FACTORY |
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