The legend of St Torcato da Sapateira

At the beginning of the 20th century, when the Sapateira estate was still well populated, but the chapel was no longer being worshipped in and was already showing signs of abandonment, a woman named Dialina, passing by and seeing the door wide open, thought that the place was suitable for gathering her animals.

If she thought so, she did it better and, that same day, she went to the landlord and asked him for the authorisation she wanted.

The landlord, seeing no impediment, replied:

-For me, do what you want, but first don't forget to remove the St Torcato.

The woman, satisfied, accepted these words and returned to the chapel, from where she removed the saint.

As she was very thrifty - necessity teaches us to be - she looked at the saint and thought that its wood could be used to heat the fireplace that night. She took her axe and split it into chips, which she then set on fire.

As it was already suppertime, he decided to make some grated porridge to settle his stomach. But while he was cooking the porridge, it took on a bluish colour and a horrible smell.

The woman, furious at the waste, threw the porridge to the pigs. In the morning, when she woke up, she was surprised by the silence. She got up and went to see the animals.

What was his surprise when he found the pigs all dead! As soon as the people learnt about it, they immediately said that it was punishment for burning the saint.

The truth is that, whether it was due to illness or poisoning, or to St Torcato's interference, the chapel was never occupied.