Lisbon and the Theft of Azulejos [Tiles] in English (Support Text and Petition)

The problem of azulejo theft in Lisbon is a reality visible to anyone who lives in or visits the streets of Lisbon’s historic parishes and passes by antique dealers shop windows, visits antiques fairs, or attends the “Feira da Ladra” itself. It is a well-documented reality, widely confirmed by multiple official and journalistic sources. In 2024, the Lisbon Municipal Assembly approved a Recommendation 114/01 which states that there is an “increasing and alarming” occurrence, “mainly through theft, but also through vandalism and neglect, as well as constant legal and illegal demolitions and removals” of azulejo heritage, noting that there are “known houses in Europe and the United States that have azulejo panels that were stolen in Portugal and exported through illicit circuits.” This official confirmation validates the international dimension of the problem, turning Lisbon into an involuntary source of azulejos for European and American collectors.

The chronology of thefts illustrates the persistence of the phenomenon. In 2008, azulejos were stolen from the Pombal Palace on Rua do Século, taking advantage of the fact that the building was undergoing works, a recurring pattern. In 2017, the theft of “several azulejos from one of the figurative panels of Leitaria Anunciada” was reported, a case that gained international attention. More recently, in 2024, Fórum Cidadania Lx, continued to warn that “azulejo heritage continues to be dismantled and looted on a daily basis.” In 2025, veteran lancers reported that “azulejos are being removed and sold at fairs” from their former premises in Ajuda.

These thefts of azulejos for sale mean that Law no. 107/2001, which establishes “the bases of the policy and regime for the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage,” and Law no. 79/2017 of 18 August, which “establishes mechanisms for the protection of azulejo heritage” and amended the Legal Regime of Urbanisation and Building specifically to protect this heritage, are not being respected. This amendment “came to protect all tiled façades in the country, a measure long sought by heritage defence groups.” Despite this legal framework, the market referred to in the petition “Pelo Fim da Venda de Azulejos Usados em Antiquários de Lisboa” (For an End to the Sale of Used Azulejos in Lisbon’s Antique Shops) continues to exist. At the Feira da Ladra, antique azulejos have been openly sold for decades, despite the impotence of municipal inspectors and police who frequent the space, and, even more seriously, in virtually all of Lisbon’s antique shops one can see old azulejos for sale. Relatedly, in several abandoned palaces and buildings in Lisbon it is possible to see holes in tiled walls, the result of pieces removed to be sold to tourists, showing how tourism fuels this illicit trade.

The scale of the problem goes beyond Lisbon. In 2019, 164 seventeenth-century azulejos disappeared from the Monastery of Odivelas, “one of the largest azulejo repositories in the country.” The SOS Azulejo project, coordinated by the Judicial Police since 2007 and focused on “criminal prevention and preventive conservation of the country’s azulejo heritage,” acknowledges that this is a national problem requiring a coordinated response from the authorities.

The structural damage caused by the removal of azulejos is widely recognised by conservation specialists as serious. Azulejos are not merely decorative; they perform waterproofing and thermal protection functions for walls, and their removal harms the integrity of buildings. The destruction of complete panels effectively represents the loss of unique historical documents, many dating back centuries and irrecoverable once dispersed.

The proposals presented in the petition are aligned with the recommendations of specialists and heritage-defence organisations. The creation of a public database with a photographic inventory is particularly relevant, as it facilitates the identification of stolen pieces and their possible recovery, and we have already contributed to this survey, which is publicly accessible and constantly updated at

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1G8bVImWXo1ytIT66zUoZkHgfrNI&usp=sharing.

We believe that regulating the sale of azulejos with a requirement for certification of origin would directly address the identified problem of trading in pieces of dubious provenance.

Classifying Lisbon as the “world capital of stolen azulejos [tiles]” may sound exaggerated, but it reflects a legitimate concern in light of the documented international circulation of azulejos stolen in Portuguese territory. Lisbon has one of the most important azulejo heritages in the world, which makes the city a prime target for this type of cultural crime. The urgency of the measures proposed in the petition is therefore fully justified by the irreversible nature of the damage inflicted on Lisbon’s heritage and by the need to preserve this unique legacy for future generations.

Petition “For an End to the Sale of Used Tiles in Lisbon’s Antique Shops”

The undersigned, citizens concerned with the preservation of Lisbon’s historical and cultural heritage, hereby express their opposition to the sale of used tiles in antique shops and other commercial establishments: a practice that continues to fuel the looting and destruction of the city’s azulejo heritage.

Reasons for our position

Protection of Cultural Heritage:

Traditional tiles are part of Lisbon’s identity and collective memory and are irreplaceable architectural elements.

Frequently illicit origin:

Many tiles offered for sale come from thefts or illegal removals from buildings, especially from historic façades and interiors.

Irreversible consequences:

Removing original tiles weakens walls, causes structural damage, and disfigures the architectural ensemble.

Encouragement of the black market:

The existence of an active market for used tiles encourages continued theft and vandalism, generating illicit profits and losses to the shared heritage.

Legal framework:

Law No. 107/2001 (Basic Law on Cultural Heritage) and Lisbon’s Municipal Master Plan establish that the unauthorized removal of elements from protected buildings is illegal and punishable.

Since 2017, Lisbon City Council (CML) has required explicit authorization for the transport and removal of tiles; this practice is illegal when carried out without a license.

What we ask for:

a. A total ban on the sale of used tiles in antique shops and markets (such as the “Feira da Ladra”) in Lisbon, except in duly authorized cases accompanied by a certificate of legal origin issued by the CML.

b. Active and regular inspection of establishments that trade tiles, with immediate seizure of those that do not present valid documentation.

c. The creation of a public database on the CML website with photographic records and GPS locations of existing tile panels in the city, to monitor possible thefts and removals.

d. Public awareness campaigns aimed at the general public and traders, highlighting the importance of preserving tile heritage in situ.

To preserve tiles is to preserve Lisbon.

Tiles are not just decorative objects: they are an integral part of the city’s landscape, history, and identity. Their removal and private sale impoverish us all.

Sign and Share:

https://peticaopublica.com/pview.aspx?pi=Azulejos

A final appeal to visitors

If you are visiting Lisbon, please do not buy azulejos [tiles] from antique shops or from street markets such as Feira da Ladra. What may look like a charming souvenir is often a piece of stolen heritage, removed from historic buildings and public spaces, leaving lasting damage behind.

Choosing not to buy is a concrete way to help protect Lisbon’s cultural heritage. Enjoy the city, photograph its tiles, learn their history: but leave them where they belong: on the walls of Lisbon, for everyone.