Guarda

Considered Portugal's coldest town

City Overview

Guarda is known for the beauty of its surroundings, the monumentality of its castle, and the role it played in Portugal’s history.

It is known as the coldest town in Portugal due to its location close to Portugal’s highest mountain range, Serra de Estrela.

Head to Serra de Estrella, not only to gaze at the tops of its snow-covered mountains, but to climb Torre which is mainland Portugal’s highest point.

Guarda is one of Portugal’s best locales to unveil the medieval charm of Portugal, to delight in the pristine nature of its surroundings, including the strikingly beautiful mountainous landscape of the Serre de Estrella, and eat some of Portugal’s choicest delicacies, washed down with local wine.

Places to stay

Most people stay in the centre of Guarda to be within walking distance of most touristic areas.

There is a wide choice of accommodation from hotels to local guest houses depending on your budget or preference.

Sightseeing

Head to Centum Cellas, one of Portugal’s prime Roman landmarks. Situated close to Guarda, the 1st century-DC Roman villa is known as one of the best examples of Roman “rural” architecture. There is a belief that the Centum Cellas may have been a jail with up to 100 cells for prisoners, and has since been haunted by the former inmates who died here.

Pay a visit to the Sabugal Castle perched atop a mountain and surrounded by the beautiful Coa River, Sabugal Castle is one of Portugal’s best-preserved historical landmarks.

Guarda’s old town centre at Praca Luis de Camoes, is a sloping city square lined by 16th-to-18th century mansions and its imposing austere cathedral, Se de Guarda. The old town is a warren of narrow cobbled streets situated to the north of the cathedral.

The Rua de Sao Vicente; a fragment of the ancient walls, Torre dos Ferreiros; Porta d’El Rei and Porta da Erva, two gates scenically set on the fringes of the town’s historical nucleus; and Judiaria, the town’s magical ancient Jewish Quarter famous for its narrow lanes, through whose maze-like narrow alleys you will have to pass if you go from one gate to the other. 

Cafes & Restaurants

Guarda is known for its delectable meat, and Portuguese specialties. Portuguese meat soups are popular as well as goat meat from Serra de Estrella and Portugal’s great chourico, a distinct Portuguese sausage not to be confused with chorizo.

The gastronomy of Guarda is associated with Serra da Estrela. The gastronomy of the city includes a wide range of meat-based dishes, given the geographical location of the city, as well as the surrounding lands, which are conducive to grazing. There is also a wide variety of fish dishes from freshwater streams.

Pork is popular meat with countless dishes made with this type of meat. The ham is cured in sea salt, as well as the typical local cured meats (black pudding, farinheira and chouriço). Other common meats are lamb, goat, beef, and white meat.

At the time of the hunting season, unique dishes, such as hare rice "malandrinho", or wild boar with beans are eaten.

In the fall, Trancoso's edible mushroom stew (champignons) and chestnut soup are popular.

Other

Currency - Euro (EUR)

Language - Portuguese

Visas - Not needed for travellers from the US, Canada and Europe

Best Time To Visit - March – October

Timezone - Western European Standard Time (GMT)

Homosexual Activity - Legal