Nowadays, Torreira has enough structures in education, culture, sports, medical assistance, social security and tourism. It has got a post-office, a bank, a chemist, discos, bars, a camping park, a holiday camp, restaurants, hotels, a fishing harbour and a marina.

Torreira's Parochial Church

it was inaugurated in 1951. It´s a modern construction, with three naves, high polygonal chancel and a tower in the façade.

St. Paio's Chapel

it was built in sand dunes and covered with sand twice. The first chapel was polygonal. The second chapel was built on its ruins. When it was destroyed the present chapel was built, in 1878. It was remodelled in 1995, and the area around the chapel is now a park where you can take a snack. It has an altar piece from the XVIII century and sculptures dating from the XVI and XVIII centuries.

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Arte Xávega

photo by António Cravo

Handmade, seasonal fishing, that takes place from March to October. Sardines, mackerels and other fishes are caught in these months. Few changes were made in this type of fishing despite technological progress. But now fishermen use motors to go to the sea. Wooden logs are used to push the boat to the sea and fishermen use also a long stick to help pushing the boat.
The nets used in this art are trawling nets. The boat goes to the sea and the nets are thrown to the water forming a circle. On the way back, the cables tied to the nets are connected to the oxen that pull the nets to the beach. Six oxen or a tractor can be used.
In 1880, there were six fishing companies, with about eighty workers each: forty-six at sea and forty in land. Each company had twenty four oxen. Nowadays, there are three companies. Two of them use tractors to pull the nets. The owner of the third company despite technological evolution, still uses the oxen in this fishing art, attracting many tourists.

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Handmade Fishing in " Ria"

photo by António Cravo

Fishermen use several fishing arts to catch the fish, according to the species. Some arts are no longer used, but others are still used by fishermen to survive.
"Chinchorro" and "Chincha" are trawling nets, only different in size. These arts are both practised all year. "Chinchorro" is used to fish eels, flat fishes, rock-basses, soles and crabs while "Chincha" is used to fish eels in low waters. The "cabrita" and the "ancinho de pé" are instruments used in fishing. They are both composed by nets attached to rakes. "Cabrita" is used in deep waters. The "ancinho" sweeps the bottom of the "Ria" and the shellfish are caught in net. "Ancinho de pé" is used the same way but in low waters. The "galricho" is a sedentary art, used to catch eels.

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The "Moliceiro"

photo by António Cravo

This boat is a symbol of this part of the country. It is an elegant, coloured boat with a special beauty. It is built with pine wood, with about fifteen metres long it gracefully slides in the waters. This type of boat was created to pick seaweed from the "Ria". This "moliço" is used by farmers to fertilize their lands. The stem is the main part of the boat because it is hand painted with unique paintings and writings. We can´t forget the stern. It is equally beautiful and important. These paintings represent trivial scenes and religious scenes. The colours used are bright and the final painting is symbolic, popular and spontaneous.

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