Guarda
Guarda is known as the city of the five F's: strong, rich, cold, faithful and beautiful (forte, farta, fria, fiel e formosa). It is the highest Portuguese city, at approximately 1050 meters above sea level. The original city was founded in 1199 with the charter provided by Dom Sancho I, aiming for it to act as a center of commerce and Beirã's border defense against the invaders, reason why it received the what is still its name today. To know this city, start by Praça Luís de Camões, also known as old square. From this heart of the city, located right next to the Cathedral, set off to discover the funny alleys filled with interesting monuments. The highlight goes to the Cathedral, the Castle and the old Episcopal Palace. Make sure to also visit the famous tiles from Vilar Formoso with about fifty panels by João Alves de Sá. The lovers of outdoor sports have in this council several activities to choose from, from hiking trails and cycling up to the paragliding Championships in Linhares and also skiing facilities at Serra da Estrela. The typical products are many, from handicrafts (embroidery, brass bells, weaving and lace) to gastronomy, with emphasis on the Serra da Estrela cheese and sausages. Agriculture and pastoralism predominate in the outlying parishes of Guarda, noting, however, that this is not the case in the city, where trade and services abound. The Serra da Estrela natural park, with more than 100,000 hectares, is responsible for the promotion of the municipality's tourism.
