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Friday, November 14, 2014

Muxia...Exploring the Death Coast of Galicia, Spain

I first saw Muxia featured in the movie, The Way, with Martin Sheen, about a man who does the Camino de Santiago in memory of his son. When my husband and I were talking about places in Galicia that we wanted to explore, I knew that Muxia had to be one. 



Muxia is a coastal fishing town, in the province of A Coruña, along Spain's Death Coast, Costa de la Muerte. 




Known for its rocky coast, it has seen its fair share of shipwrecks. 



In 2002, the Prestige, a Greek oil tanker, sank and polluted thousands of miles of coastline and more than one thousand beaches in Spain, Portugal, and France, as well as damaging the fishing industry that is critical to the area. 



The sinking released more than 70,000 million gallons of oil, causing the greatest environmental disaster in the history of both Spain and Portugal, and offshore fishing was suspended for six months. While the cleanup has been extensive, environmentalists warn against the long term effects of such as disaster.
Monument to the Prestige disaster of 2002.


The name Muxia refers to the monks who built a nearby Benedictine monastery, the Church of San Julián de Moraime. Along the water's edge is another church, Santuario da Virxe da Barca, which sustained significant damage in a lightening strike on Christmas Day, 2013. 



In fact, the legend is that the Virgin Mary arrived in Muxia in a stone boat, in order to encourage Saint James, who was not having any luck preaching and converting residents in the area.



A popular spot along the coast of Muxia is the pedra de abalar, or rocking stone, the pedra de barca. 

These large stones are balanced on a point and wiggle in the wind. Once used as an indicator of guilt, they are now known for good luck, if you crawl underneath and emerge on the other side. 




Muxia, like Finisterre, is also a popular spot among pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago. 



After arriving in Santiago de Compostela, some choose to continue on to Muxia, 74.2 kilometers from Santiago.



There is a stone walkway that connects the coast with the town of Muxia, dotted with parcels of land and small farms.




Muxia does not disappoint. The coast is spectacular, and you will often find huge waves crashing along the huge rocks that line the shore. 





If you are blessed to visit Galicia, make Muxia one of your must-see destinations. 


















30 comments:

  1. Looks like a great place to visit and you describe it so well! Sounds very interesting with stunning pictures of the coast! Thanks for linking upwith #weekendwanderlust

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    1. It is beautiful, and fairly unknown outside of Spain...except with people familiar with the Camino de Santiago. Thank you for the opportunity to link up, Samiya, and thank you for stopping by.

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    1. It is beautiful, Rebecca, and fairly unknown outside of Spain...except with people familiar with the Camino de Santiago.

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  3. Oh I LOVE going on your trips with you Kelly! One day I was showing your pictures to my husband and I was all, "How does she go so many cool places?!?!?" Then I remembered...she probably doesn't have four kids with two in college and two in private school, one of which is a toddler...

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    1. Thank you, Jill. We never were blessed with children. We're blessed in other ways.

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  4. Oh wow! I didn't know anything about this place! It looks like an awesome place to visit.

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    1. It is beautiful, Jillian, and fairly unknown outside of Spain...except with people familiar with the Camino de Santiago. Thank you for stopping by.

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  5. I don't travel as much as I used to and you're making me miss it terribly! Gorgeous pictures!

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    1. You could be a tourist in your own town, Ali...until you are able to go on bigger trips. Thank you for stopping by!

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  6. What a great trip and love the history.

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    1. It is beautiful, Vanessa, and fairly unknown outside of Spain...except with people familiar with the Camino de Santiago. Thank you for stopping by.

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  7. Love the waves ! Rocks wiggling in the wind ??!!- scary !

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    1. It was a gorgeous day...even the wiggly rocks. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  8. Replies
    1. It is beautiful. The stone work in Northern Spain is spectacular, in general...a great place to visit, for sure.

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  9. I eventually will go to Spain. Going to Asia soon. I love to travel a lot. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Helene! Have fun in Asia. Where will you be? What will you be doing there?

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  10. Sounds like an amazing trip! I love your pictures!

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  11. It looks like a very beautiful place to visit.

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    1. It is beautiful, Pam, and fairly unknown outside of Spain...except with people familiar with the Camino de Santiago. Thank you for stopping by.

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  12. I love the coastline, and what amazing details. I agree it looks like a beautiful.

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    1. It is beautiful, Bonnie Rose, and fairly unknown outside of Spain...except with people familiar with the Camino de Santiago. Thank you for stopping by.

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  13. Very sad to hear about that story - I mean those disasters are horrible! But that said, the coast looks amazing - it really reminds me of Scotland and Ireland!

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    1. The environmental consequences are just so vast. The coast is amazing...very Celtic looking. In fact, the Galicians consider the Irish their cousins...it's the closest land mass west of Spain. Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. This was wonderful to learn about... the weather there looks a bit grey and stormy-- very fitting for the title of "Death Coast"! I've been thinking more and more about walking the camino and your post reminded me about it. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. How exciting! The Camino is on our list. We figure we need about 30 days, so we're planning to do it once we're living there full time. Thank you for stopping by, Cynthia!

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  15. Awesome pictures! This must be quite a place to visit :) Thanks for sharing!

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    1. It is amazing, Sandra! Spain has so many great things to see and do. Thank you for stopping by!

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