As the name implies, Guarda, has its origins as a fortress town guarding the frontier of Portugal from approach from Spain. During its long history, Guarda was occupied by the Romans, the Visigoths and later the Moors.
Located 70km east of Viseu, is also Portugal's highest town at an altitude of over 1,000mConstructed mostly from granite, Guarda is an elegant town which earns the soubriquet "forte, farta, fiel e formosa" (strong, wealthy, loyal and beautiful) from its proud residents.
Nearby you can find the quaint mountaintop villages of Seia and Manteigas, splendid places to visit any time of the year, whether you prefer skiing on beautiful snow-covered hills or taking peaceful nature hikes by the Zêzere river.
Known for its vital role as a frontier during the Middle Ages, Guarda (meaning ‘guard’) still holds many of the colossal castles that once fortified the country. These can be visited in towns such as Figueira do Castelo, Pinhel and Almeida. Make sure you see the Castle of Sabugal and the Castle of Sortelha, excellent representations of the powerful military-inspired style that characterises these monumental structures.
Guarda's most famous attraction is its fortress-like Sé, a granite cathedral built between 1390-1540 and including a number of different architectural styles including its Gothic extrior and intricate Manueline flourishes.
