Casarão de Azulejos, Colonial building in João Pessoa, Brazil.
Casarão de Azulejos is a 19th-century residence in downtown João Pessoa whose entire exterior is covered with blue Portuguese tiles arranged in geometric patterns across both floors. The structure stands as a well-preserved example of colonial architecture with its distinctive tiled surfaces forming the main visual feature of the building.
The residence was built in the 19th century and initially belonged to Commander Antonio dos Santos Coelho who lived there as a private home. Later it transitioned into public ownership and served different institutional purposes over the following decades.
The building reflects how Portuguese craftspeople brought their tile-making traditions to Brazil, creating homes that mixed European decoration with tropical living spaces. The blue patterns visible on the walls represent a practical choice that also displayed wealth and connection to Portugal during the colonial period.
The building sits on Conselheiro Henriques Street in the downtown area and is easily accessible on foot from other historic sites in the city center. Guided visits are available to see the interior spaces and learn about the architectural details.
The tiles on the facade were manufactured in Porto at the Devezas factory, making this one of the few buildings in Brazil that still retains original Portuguese factory tiles from that era. These tiles have survived centuries with remarkably little damage, which speaks to the quality of craftsmanship from that period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
