L'Olleria

Now we arrive to l’Olleria: the town of the glass.

In l'Olleria the manufacture of blown glass is part of everyday life. More than half of the population lives from the glass production (directly or indirectly). The first documented new about the manufacture of glass in the town dates from 1548, when they talk about the master of glass Juan Gassó and, two years later, about the master Antonio Castelló.

The manufacture process starts from the chemical composition (nowadays they used recycled glass as raw material), which is introduced into a glass melting furnace at a temperature of around 1300-1350 degrees. These furnaces are built with fireproof stone (in the past there were wood furnaces) and the energy power is the fuel-oil, which has replaced wood and coal (now into disuse).

When the glass has the right temperature, the glass-maker takes the molten glass with a steel iron and passes it to a chamber which is at controlled temperatures. Once the glass has the ideal temperature, the glass-maker can work with it in three different ways: blown glass (with a hollow iron rod); pressed glass (with a plate of iron or metal mould); and centrifuged glass (pouring molten glass into a mould that later on undergoes a centrifuging process).

After the glass-maker has shaped the glass by blowing and constricting the piece till achieving the desired shape, he places the piece in an annealing kiln to provide the required cooling curve. Then, the manufacturing process is finished.

Nowadays, handicraft and technology combine each other to offer a high-quality product accesible to everyone. This pieces can be acquired in the company “La Mediterránea” (telephone number: 0034 962208016) and in some shops you can find in l'Olleria. Visits have to be arranged in advance.