Tocha Beach Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Place of Worship

District: Coimbra > Cantanhede > Praia da Tocha

Location

The Church of Praia da Tocha stands in the locality of the same name, a coastal nook in the municipality of Cantanhede. Its position is central in the village, harmoniously integrated into an urban environment that develops around a large, tree-lined square. The low-rise houses surrounding it complement its presence, creating an inviting setting for quiet observation.

Origins and Tradition

The history of the Church of Praia da Tocha has its roots in a promise of faith. In the year 1610, a navigator from Pontevedra, named João Garcia Bacelar, saw his ship in danger. At the height of the storm, he swore to erect an altar to Our Lady of Atocha on the first sandy beach where he could make landfall. That beach was Tocha, and the small hermitage he built there constituted the embryo of the current temple. At the end of the 17th century, the Canons Regular of Santa Cruz of Coimbra shaped the church that can be visited today, which would benefit from significant reforms in the second half of the 18th century.

Sacred Art and Architecture

Recognized as a Property of Public Interest since 1944, the Church of Praia da Tocha presents a remarkable expression of Baroque architecture. Its single-nave interior is amply lit and reveals a singular artistic richness. The nave walls are covered with figurative tile panels, created in the second half of the 18th century, depicting biblical scenes and framed by elaborate shell motifs.

In the square-shaped chancel, an unusual circular tempietto stands out. This structure, supported by eight elegant Corinthian columns, is topped by a dome and a lantern. This entire space is embellished with tiles from 1763 and mural paintings that decorate the vault. In the center, beneath the tempietto, is the main altar, made of carved wood, where the revered image of Our Lady of Atocha rests. A polychrome carved wood pulpit, placed to the left, complements the ensemble of decorative elements of great artistic and historical value.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt