Silver Coast Portugal

Glass town with English twist

Marinha Grande is located between Leiria and the coast. Since the second half of the 18th century it is the centre of glass manufacturing industry.

The Royal Glass Factory (Real Fabrica de Vidros) was bought by an English entrepreneur William Stephens who developed the factory and the business under the protection of the Marques de Pombal, and added a glassblowing school. The wood from the nearby pine forest was used to fuel the factories.

In 1826, the factory was given to the state and became one of the country's main producers of traditionally made fine crystal.

The former palacial home of William Stephens now contains the Museu do Vidro da Marinha Grande (glass museum) which houses glassware from the 17th-20th centuries.

Two other museums in Marinha Grande:

Museu Santos Barosa: Santos Barosa is the oldes glass factory in Portugal, and still working. The factory also has a museum, its collection shows how glass was made and used through the ages.

Museu Joaquim Correia: the former residence of one of the most leading families of Marinha Grande. It is a 19th century house, and contains the artistic heritage of Joaquim Correia. He was born in 1920 in a family of glassblowers. He studied the art of sculpting, first in Porto and later in Lisbon. He was a student of famous artists like Simões de Almeida, Francisco Franca, Barata Feyo and António Duarte.

Marinha Grande: The glass centre of the region

Apart from the glass museum Museo do Vidro in the former residence of Stephens, where glass-ware of the 17th to the 20th century is on display, there are 2 more museums about the glass industry.

• Museu Santos Barosa: Santos Barosa is the oldest glass factory of Portugal, and it's still in operation. There is also a museum at the factory, the collection shows how glass was made and used through the ages.

• The Joaquim Correia museum is the former residence of one of the The Joaquim Correia museum is the former residence of one of the most prominent families of Marinha Grande. The house dates back from 19th century. and houses the artistic legacy of Joaquim Correia. He was born in 1920 into a family of glassblowers. He studied sculpting, first in Porto and later in Lisbon. He was a student of renowned artists such as Simões de Almeida (cousin), Francisco Franca, Barata Feyo and António Duarte.