Environment
Guarda is located in the central Portugal - in region Centro - a region of diversified landscapes.
There is the coastal plain with golden beaches
(Silver Coast)
- well known and favored by surfers from all over the world!
Here you will also find some of the best golf courses in Europe.
There is also the mountainous inland - dominated by the Serra da Estrela mountain. The green, rugged landscape
of this region is crisscrossed by rivers.
Outdoor activities are fishing, horse-back riding, hiking, tennis and canoeing (and, in the Winter season,
skiing in Serra da Estrela).
Some distances of interest
The closest airport is Porto Internationale Airport, located 150 km away.
It is less than 1 km to the mountains and 10 km to the nearest river.
In Portugal the Atlantic Ocean is always "close by" - distances from estern inland border will
maximum be a two hour drive. The closest beach is more than 50 km away.
Climate : Inland clima with hot dry summers and cold winter weather Town character : Historical town Primary Industry : Agricultur
Population in city proper: 31.200 inhabitants. Population in the municipality: 44.100 inhabitants.
Guarda is a city and a municipality in the eastern inland in region Centro in Portugal. Guarda was founded in 1199 by the second king of Portugal - Sancho I - and is one of the oldest cities in Portugal.
Guarda is the highest city in Portugal on a altitude of 1.056 meters, located northeast of the largest mountain in mainland Portugal - Serra da Estrela. The hole region is dotted with fortifications and hilltop villages. Guarda is no exception. Its name is in fact an indication of its guarding role. Much of the defending walls of the city - put in place by the 12th century King Sancho I - still remains to be seen today, including three original portals.
The main attraction of Guarda is the cathedral - Se da Guarda. Guarda is also the birthplace of Pedro Alvares Cabral, the man credited with the discovery of Brazil in 1500. His family changed the village's 13th century castle into their own grand accommodation.
Guarda is served by major highways and an international train station.
Hang-gliding
Some 20km west of the town you will find Linhares - known in Portugal as the "cathedral" of hang-gliding. Linhares provides unique conditions for hang-gliders, with a well-equipped school and annual national competitions. The enthusiasts will be looking out over boundless fields and valleys of green.
Wine from the region of Centro
Portugal produces some of the world's finest, oldest, unique and highest value-added wines.
The country has a large variety of native breeds - about 285 - producing a very wide variety
of different wines with distinctive personality.
