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Municipality in the centre of Portugal
Photo: Nuno Tavares, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Guarda is a city of 43,000 people (2011) in Beira Alta, a region of Central Portugal. Guarda is the highest city in continental Portugal (altitude 1,056 m), located to the northeast of Serra da Estrela (the largest mountain in mainland Portugal). The main attraction in Guarda is its cathedral, known as the Sé da Guarda.
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Catedral da Guarda, Sé da Guarda
A medieval temple built in Gothic and Manueline styles. Its restoration, carried out by the architect Rosendo Carvalheira, took place between 1899 and 1921.
A National Monument whose construction, supposedly on a Roman-Lusitanian fort from the 1st century, took place between the 12th and 14th centuries.
Museu Regional da Guarda
A museum of art, archeology, ethnology, and history situated in a 17th-century seminary that was part of the bishop's palace.
Noble Wines and Such
Traditional Portuguese and local cuisine served by the fireplace in winter or on the outdoor terrace with great views in summer. Offerings include artisanal local meats, sausages, and cheeses.
Italian restaurant and pizzeria.
Family-style restaurant.
Four-star, 63-room hotel with two swimming pools, a spa, a gym, a tennis court, a bar, an in-room minibar, room service, and free Wi-Fi.
Three-star, 23-room hotel. Each room is air conditioned and there is a seating area with sofa. There's free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and paid street parking nearby.
Three-star, 82-room hotel with onsite restaurant, bar, free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free parking.
By bus
There are buses from Spain (Madrid, Salamanca) to Oporto which stop in Guarda. A one-way ticket from Salamanca to Guarda costs about €25.
By car
The principal road connecting Guarda to the rest of Portugal and to Spain is the A25 [Aveiro-Vilar Formoso).
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