Hotel do Muxito, Former hotel complex in Cruz de Pau, Portugal
Hotel do Muxito was a sprawling complex featuring thirteen villas, an equestrian center, a nightclub, and Portugal's first Olympic-sized swimming pool with a ten-meter diving platform. The buildings spread across large grounds along a major highway, combining residential accommodations and recreational facilities in one location.
The resort opened in 1957 as a luxury destination and hosted national and international football teams before closing in 1973 due to financial troubles. During its brief run, it became known for attracting sports organizations and high-profile visitors to the region.
The site featured Portuguese colonial architectural touches blended with modernist design from the 1950s, reflecting how the country wanted to present itself through grand hospitality. This fusion of styles showed how local building traditions merged with contemporary international influences of that era.
The property sits directly along National Road 10, making it easily accessible by car from Lisbon and towards the southern Alentejo and Algarve regions. Visitors should expect to walk considerable distances across the grounds, so comfortable shoes and adequate time are advisable for exploring the site.
The grounds provided guests with motor vehicles to explore the wooded areas and contained artificial lakes plus a small bullring within its boundaries. These uncommon features made it one of the more unusual resort concepts in Portugal at the time.
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