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Another educational and free activity in Mallorca is a visit to a glassblowing factory. Plunge for a moment into the times 300 years ago and feel the old spirit of the time.
The birth of glassblowing
The tradition of glassblowing on the island of Mallorca goes back to 1719. Since then, the Gordiola family has continued this craft, mastered 300 years ago by their great-grandfather. Three centuries have passed and eight generations of the same family have kept the formula and the secrets of creating glassware in the manner of their great-grandfather.
This family of glassblowers was originally located in El Templo de Palma, near the Cathedral. But just over 50 years ago, they moved to the same facility they now occupy. It is an exact replica of the French chateau where King Jaime spent long periods of his life.
Here they have furnaces in which glass is melted and which burn all day long, crucibles and chests. Here, as in 1719, three teachers and three assistants work with glass every day, learning from each other.
The process of glass blowing is a magnificent spectacle that requires a lot of experience and skill. By the way, you can see with your own eyes how these wonderful multi-colored glass products are born. For tourists, the glassblower makes a small show, where he shows all the stages of creation of glass products. It’s all free of charge, although tips are welcome! You may also be offered to try hot glass work, and then they will give you a souvenir of your creation as a souvenir.
Glassblowing factory and glass museum
The Gordiola glassblowing factory specializes in creating lamps and glassware. On request, the glassblowers fulfill orders for large families in America, Europe and the Middle East, for decorators from various countries. Their style of glass blowing is similar to Venetian glass blowing, but with a stricter color palette. They use local tones and minerals in their work.
It’s impressive how this family honors its traditions. There is an old notebook that is passed down from parents to children. It contains secret formulas for the composition and design of glassware. Of course, some new views on creating glass masterpieces are used by the younger generation, but the style and characteristics laid down by their great-grandfather are preserved.
You can walk around the estate, relax in the shade of the trees of the old courtyard and visit the free museum. It houses exhibits collected and acquired at auctions, excavations, markets and antique dealers around the world.
The factory also has a store where you can buy handmade glass souvenirs. There are hundreds, if not thousands of them! Various vases, glasses, candlesticks decorate many hotels in Mallorca. The Gordiola family and their products take part in various exhibitions and competitions, their work is deservedly recognized internationally and most of their products are exported to other countries.
