A couple of weeks ago, in May, I spent a week in Malaga with my husband. It’s a city in Spain that I had not visited before and I like to explore historic places. One thing I wasn't expecting was to find that Malaga has a museum of glass and crystal. “El Museo del Vidrio y Cristal de Málaga”. I spotted it on a list of museums and places of interest on a tourist map given to me by the hotel we were staying at. I have a history with crystal as both I and my husband worked at Waterford Crystal many years ago. My husband was a glass blower. I just had to go and visit this museum. Would they have some Waterford crystal on display?
The historic center of Malaga is very walkable. Many of the streets are pedestrianised and are well laid out for tourists. The museum is in a street that is a little bit hidden, but it’s fun following the street map and then, when you walk into the beautiful courtyard garden of the house, you will have arrived.
The exhibits are set out on three floors and you will need to walk upstairs to begin to tour. There isn't a lift, unfortunately. This is because the house was derelict until the owner of the museum, Sr. Gonzalo Fernández-Prieto, bought and restored the eighteenth century mansion and to display his collection of glass and crystal.
This is a private museum and guides are on hand to escort visitors. We were in a small group of three people and there were other groups touring at the same time, but it didn't feel busy or crowded.
The owner has furnished the house in the time period of the glass and crystal he has on display. For example there are two, at least, crystal chandeliers, in rooms that are furnished to show how they would have looked in the nineteenth century. You will step back in time and walk on the original mahogany floors in balconied rooms overlooking the courtyard.
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of glass and crystal and explained how Eastern European glass makers ended up working in Waterford Crystal after the Second World War. This was of particular interest to us.
There are thousands of pieces of glass, dating from prehistoric times to modern pieces of art glass. There are examples from all around the world.
The tour lasts for an hour and by the end of it you will have learnt a lot of interesting stories about glass and world politics and power. It is an amazing tour in a beautiful place.
One of the surprising things I learnt was that William Morris, the English designer famous for his fabric designs, also made stained glass windows. One of them is in the museum. Our guide pointed out that the fabrics on a Madonna and child in one stained glass window were William Morris designs. An example of early product placement advertisements, originally in a church, intended to be seen by the congregation. It made me smile.
If you are in Malaga, this museum is a treat to visit.
There is a lovely website: https://www.museovidrioycristalmalaga.com/
Entrance is great value. Just 7 euros (5 euros for retired people).
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I am a writer and have self-published three historical novels about the Irish Famine with women and girls as the main protagonists.
When I retired from working in Further Education, I had time for travel, research and study. I enrolled on a Master’s degree in Creative Writing and began to write my first novel in 2018.
I am currently completing the fourth novel in the series.
My other hobby includes art. I enjoy visiting art galleries, I also take short courses in art history and attend lessons in drawing and painting.
Social media: X @bridgetw1807
Link to my novels on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UgMgDy