It was back in the 12th century when D. Sancho I, then king of Portugal, founded the city of Guarda, deep within the Serra da Estrela mountain range. It is the highest city in the country as much of the city sits well over 1,056 meters above sea level. As such, it is also home to the finest ski resort in all of Portugal.
Not too far away, you will see the small villages of Manteigas and Seia. Many visitors to Guarda stop by and check out these quaint villages when they grow weary of skiing or hiking along the Zêzere River. But the most impressive features of Guarda are not the mountains, it is the many castles which line the frontier. While many towns in the area all have their own castle, the best examples of these impressive castles are the Sabugal and the Sortelha castles.
There are 20 castles in, all located throughout Guarda. Tours are available to take you through each one where you will be able to experience much about the long history of the region. When on a guided tour, you will also be taken to a number of historical villages and ruins that have been unearthed in recent times. Some of these ruins date back to the Roman times and beyond.
Guarda Cathedral
Not too far away, you will also find the town of Trancoso which is home to a number of landmarks. It features the rich 15th century Jewish Quarter and offers any visitor a traditional Portugese atmosphere that makes anyone feel as if they have stepped back in time to the days of the Knights Templar and further. You will also find the Foz Côa which is an archeological site that is home to one of the largest collections of engravings from the Paleolithic Era in the world.
To soak in the local culture, stop by and check out Guarda’s Cathedral which took 4 centuries to complete, starting in the 12th century with completion in the 16th century. Afterwards, stop in at Guarda’s Museum see a glimpse into the long and colorful history of the region. The Corgas da Matança Dolmen which is composed of 9 pillars that date back to the Neolithic period. There is also the Excavated Medieval Graves which can be found in the nearby town of Fornos de Algodres.
Colourful Houses at A Guarda, Galicia
At the end of the day, you can stop by anyone of the many great restaurants in Guarda for a taste of the many great local delicacies. You will definitely want to come back to this region of Portugal time and time again because there is so much to experience that it is not possible to see and do it all in one trip.
