The history of our pazo | Pazo de los Escudos

The original 19th-century pazo, conceived as a stately Galician villa by the beach, underwent a radical transformation in the mid-20th century. Of this original pazo, virtually no significant structural remains have been preserved, apart from some foundations and decorative ideas that served as inspiration for later reconstructions. There are virtually no publicly available photographic records of the original 19th-century pazo, as it was almost completely demolished to make way for the present-day building.

The appearance of the pazo as we know it today is largely due to the prominent Sensat family of fishing entrepreneurs. In the 1940s, Javier Sensat Curbera (founder of the huge M.A.R. motor fishing fleet) commissioned the construction of an imposing family residence.

• The design: It was designed by the renowned architect from Vigo, Antón Román Conde. He designed a rectangular building in Galician granite, to which he added a square tower with a crenellated, defensive appearance.
  
  
• The scallop-shell façade: Román Conde conceived a highly distinctive façade decorated with scallop shells carved into the stone, a direct nod to Galicia's Jacobean and Atlantic heritage.
  
  
• Interior layout: In those days, the pazo did not have dozens of hotel rooms, but rather magnificent family salons. One of its most striking features was the large fine-wood staircase leading to the upper floors, as well as a huge lareira (traditional Galician kitchen) made entirely of stone.
  
  
• Traditional features: The Miramar estate had all the features of a self-sufficient traditional pazo: a circular granite dovecote (which retains the same stonework as the main façade), its own water wells, stables for the animals and a house for the caretakers.

Contrary to what is often believed, the 101 stone heraldic coats of arms that give the hotel its current name did not originally belong to the house. It was the Sensat family itself who, over decades of collecting and heritage preservation, purchased, gathered and brought to the estate noble coats of arms from old colonial buildings, ruined pazos and dismantled manor houses from all over Galicia, incorporating them into the gardens and walls.

Following the death of Javier Sensat and the decline of his companies, the majestic residential estate fell into disuse. In 2000, a new business venture acquired Finca Miramar with the aim of adapting it for tourism. During the restoration, the original Sensat granite building was preserved intact (today it serves as the hotel's main building), while modern adjoining glass structures were built to accommodate most of the rooms and the current spa.

• History and architecture: The current building was designed in the 1940s by architect Antón Román Conde on the remains of an earlier structure. It retains all the stately character of traditional Galician pazos.
• Accommodation: It features 54 luxurious and spacious rooms, many of them offering direct views of the sea and the Vigo Estuary.
• Water Club (Spa): It offers a complete thermal circuit including a heated indoor pool, hammam, sauna and hot tub.
• Gastronomy: It is home to Alcabre restaurant, specialising in local Galician cuisine and high-quality seafood, as well as Piacere restaurant, offering Italian cuisine.
• Events: It is an iconic venue in the Rías Baixas for luxury weddings and corporate events, thanks to its gardens overlooking the Atlantic.
• Location: It is located at Avenida Atlántida, 106, right next to Carril Beach and within walking distance of the renowned Samil Beach.