In Portugal, ceramic tiles are much more than a decorative building material. Hand-painted azulejos adorn the façades of houses, churches, railway stations and even ordinary city streets. Behind every pattern lies a story of craftsmanship, history and artistic traditions preserved for centuries.

This was the art that a group of adult learners from Craft Depo travelled to discover. In January 2025, our learners visited Lisbon, where they took part in a training programme at the ceramic studio A Casa do Azulejo.

The learning mobility took place within the European Union's Erasmus+ programme, Adult Education sector.

Project number: 2024-1-EE01-KA121-ADU-000216225

Mobility type: Group Mobility of Adult Learners.

The educational programme, “Painting of a Traditional Portuguese Tile,” combined hands-on ceramic painting with an exploration of Portugal's cultural heritage.

At the studio, participants learned how to transfer designs onto ceramic tiles, work with ceramic pigments, combine colours and create geometric and floral patterns. Everyone had the opportunity to experiment with artistic techniques and paint their own tile. One of the most interesting activities was a collaborative decorative panel, where individual tiles came together to form a single composition.

Discovering azulejo art beyond the studio was equally fascinating. During walks through Lisbon and a visit to the National Azulejo Museum, participants explored how artistic styles and painting techniques have evolved over the centuries. They also began to see the city's familiar buildings from a completely different perspective.

But the learning experience went far beyond ceramics. For some participants, this was their first experience of travelling abroad independently. Navigating an unfamiliar city, using digital maps, transport applications and online translation tools became part of their everyday learning. Gradually, initial uncertainty gave way to greater confidence, independence and a willingness to communicate.

Working together on creative projects also brought the group closer. Participants exchanged ideas, supported one another and learned to work towards a shared result.

Our learners returned from Lisbon not only with their own ceramic artworks, but also with new skills, friendships and greater confidence in their abilities. For some, the most memorable discovery was Portuguese ceramic painting; for others, it was realising that learning and travelling are possible regardless of age or previous experience.

The learning mobility was financially supported by the European Union's Erasmus+ programme.

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