Parador de Muxía: an unobstructed balcony overlooking the Atlantic
The Royal Navy’s HMS Serpent set sail from Plymouth on 8 November 1890, bound for the west coast of Africa to relieve its sister ship at the naval bases in Sierra Leone. It never arrived. Just two days later, a storm drove the vessel onto the rocks at Punta do Boi, in Camariñas, and a powerful wave claimed the lives of 173 of its 175 crew members. Not even the use of dynamite to reshape the surrounding terrain could eliminate the blind spots in the light from the Faro Vello lighthouse, caused by its poor location.
In the years following the Serpent disaster, every British naval vessel passing through the area would stop to lay a wreath and fire a salute at the cemetery established by local residents to bury the victims. The renowned Cemetery of the English forms part of the European Cemeteries Route, which, like the Camino de Santiago that also passes through the area, is recognized as a European Cultural Route.
More about the history of Parador de Muxía
That shipwreck accelerated the construction of Spain’s first electric lighthouse, Cabo Vilán, to improve navigation through the turbulent waters of the Costa da Morte, where, a century later, the Prestige oil tanker broke in two. That disaster also led to the creation of a new beacon: the Parador de Muxía. The flagship project of the Plan Galicia, launched by the Spanish Government to help rebuild the local economy following the environmental disaster, is set to become a guiding light for tourism in this land at the end of the world.
Designed by Vigo-born architect Alfonso Penela, the 98th establishment in Spain’s Paradores Nacionales network interacts so closely with its privileged surroundings that it almost blends into the landscape. The 15,000-square-metre building follows the slope of the hillside with a stepped design, while the vegetation covering its terraces can make it disappear from view at certain points along the approach. Even its two panoramic lifts travel diagonally to adapt to the gradient of the terrain.
Systems installed at Parador de Muxía
Each of the 63 rooms offers a privileged balcony overlooking the Atlantic thanks to Comenza’s glass railing system. Its GlassFit SV-1404 profile system, manufactured in anodized aluminium, can be adapted to virtually any installation requirement while enhancing safety without compromising on design. In the case of the Parador de Muxía, the design was conceived from the outset to bring the wild beauty of the surroundings and the spectacle of the sea indoors, in perfect harmony with the organic forms and premium materials used throughout the interior.
The views even extend into the infinity pool, which, together with the spa, is one of the most distinctive and photographed areas of the complex, set on twelve hectares beside Lourido Beach. Even underwater, guests can continue to enjoy the views through a glass wall secured with Comenza CC-780 floor clamps. With minimal visual impact, the system preserves the building’s minimalist aesthetic and incorporates the Level 3D adjustment device to compensate for irregularities in the slab and ensure perfect glass alignment.
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If you are looking for a glass railing solution that ensures user safety, Comenza is the answer.
Explore our GlassFit Flow and GlassFit Surface ranges or contact our technical team for personalized advice.