Museo del Vidrio y Cristal de Málaga

The Museo del Vidrio y Cristal de Málaga is a small private museum at Plazuela Santa María 5 in the Centro Histórico of Málaga, in Spain's Andalusia region, set in an 18th-century house a short walk from the cathedral. The collection was assembled by the Peter Gerson family, who restored the building and filled it with glass and crystal pieces from many centuries and regions. Visits are guided and run in small groups at set times, so the experience is personal and informative. The guide leads visitors through rooms of antiques and curiosities, covering Roman and Phoenician glass, medieval and Renaissance pieces, Venetian and Bohemian crystal, 18th-century furniture and decorative objects. A section is dedicated to the story of glassmaking, and the house itself, with a patio and period furnishings, is part of the interest. The museum has earned very high ratings from visitors for the quality of the guiding. A visit takes about one hour. Photography of the interior is possible in some areas, but visitors should ask the guide at the start. Because tours run in small groups, the museum is never crowded, though places can fill, particularly in spring, summer and holiday periods, so booking ahead is advisable. Admission is about €6 for the guided visit, and times and reservations can be confirmed at museovidrioycristalmalaga.com. The location, five minutes from the cathedral and near the Museo Picasso Málaga, makes it a rewarding stop for visitors interested in decorative arts and in historic Málaga houses beyond the main monuments.