Palheiros da tocha - Portugal

At the beginning of the 19th century, the “Palheiros da Tocha” were a mere group of shacks in the sand dunes, located in front of the sea. They essentially served as a storage and protection against the winds that came from the side of the sea, allowing some shelter at night, or when the sea was "upset".
Looking for new places to work, fishermen from "little possessions" came to this region, mostly from the north of the country, who built these shelters using pine wood, whose species abounded in the nearby forests, giving rise to to the "haystacks".
From temporary constructions during the fishing time, those that were tents at the beginning, have been transformed over time into real dwellings.
Surrounded by preserved dunes, Praia da Tocha has a huge golden sand that extends to the north, towards the deserted and almost wild Praia do Palheirão. The sea, with strong waves, offers excellent conditions for surfing and bodyboarding.