North Portugal Tourism Guide - Guarda

Guarda Town Centre

There is a good variety of hotels, shops, cafes and restaurants for all tastes as well as a smattering of historic sights in the old town itself. A lot of the more modern hotels are on the outskirts of Guarda lining the hill up to the old town such as the plush three star Hotel Vanguarda. These are serviced by a range of restaurants in the hotels themselves or nearby. From the main road, Avenida Monsenhor Mendes do Carmo leading up to Guarda from main IP5 road, a whole new set of walkways are being installed up the hill so you can walk into the old town easily. Cash machines are dotted throughout the town.

Guarda Tourist Information Office is on the central square, Praca Lus de Camoes, 6300-725 Guarda. Tel: 351 271 205 530. Fax: 351 271 205 533. Email: turismo.estrela@mail.telepac.pt and postodeturismo@hotmail.com

There is also one of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park Information Offices in Guarda. You'll be excused for not finding it - as seems to be the custom - they're not well signed! It is on the corner of Rua Dom Sancho 1 and Rua Dr Francisco de Passos in a nondescript building but you'll notice wildlife pictures and leaflets stuck to the windows of the door. They have a range of leaflets and information including the English language books "Discovering Serra da Estrela" and the book, "Estrela: A Natural Approach". Not all staff speak English but they are very helpful nonetheless. Open Mon-Fri 9 am-12.30 pm and 2-5.30 pm.

Guarda Old Town

Guarda occupies a much boasted elevated position not far from the Spanish border at 1,056 metres (3,465 feet). Guarda is often described as Portugal's highest city and you can certainly feel a nip in the air as you climb ever upwards towards the centre. Although considered a city, and it does have an impressive cathedral, the old town is a welcoming place around which it is easy to find your way around. It is popular with weekenders and during the holiday season and is an excellent base from which to explore the less touristy north eastern part of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park.

Being so near the Spanish border the town's history is one of a defensive frontier town for which it was founded in 1199. The old town is perched high up on a hill with the cathedral and the Praca Luis de Camoes square forming its centre. The cathedral is a huge gothic fortress that dominates this central position. Started in 1390 it took 150 years to complete and is dotted with Manueline doors and windows as well as Renaissance ornamentation including gargoyles, the ones facing Spain are particularly menacing. Inside the most striking feature is the impressive four-storey Renaissance altarpiece. This has been credited to Jean de Rouen who was once of a group of 16th century French artists who founded an influential school of sculpture at Coimbra. Open 9 am-12 pm and 2-5 pm.

The square around the cathedral, Praca Luis de Camoes, has several 16th-18th century mansions dotted around it with striking granite decorations and galleries with painted details on the walls. There isn't much left of Guarda's 13th century castle other than the keep, Torre de Menagem on the hilltop above the cathedral (not open to the public). A remnant from the old town walls is the Torre dos Ferreiros, the Blacksmith's tower, and the gates Porta D'El Rei and Porta da Erva. Just down the hill not far from Torre dos Ferreiros is the 17th century Igreja da Misericordia church decorated in classic northern Portugal Renaissance style with whitewashed walls and granite details around the windows, doors and trims. The coat of arms of king Joao V is above the entrance and it is thought he ordered the building of the church. Inside the Baroque altars and pulpits are of interest.

There is a large former Jewish quarter to the north of the cathedral where you can still see crosses and other symbols etched into some of the 16th century door frames from the time of the inquisition which new Christians used to identify their homes - particularly on Rua Rui de Pina and Rua Dom Sancho I.

Museums and Art in Guarda

The Museum of Guarda is on Rua General Alves Rocadas in the 17th century former Episcopal Seminary. This was built on the orders of Bishop of Guarda, Nuno de Noronha, in 1601. The museum's collection includes archaeological finds, 16th-18th century paintings, armoury from the 16th to 19th centuries, regional ethnography, 19th and 20th century paintings including those by Columbano, Antonio Carneiro, Veloso Salgado, Carlos Reis, Joao Vaz among others and designs by Alves Cardoso and Jose Tagarro. Worthy of special attention is the 16th century Altar of Annunciation by the Coimbra Renaissance School. Museu da Guarda, Rua General Alves Rocadas, 6300-663 Guarda. Tel: 351 271 213 460. Fax: 351 271 223 221. Email: mguarda@ipmuseus.pt. Open Tues-Sun 10 am-12.30pm and 2 pm-5.30 pm. Closed: Mondays, 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December.

Next door is the Paco da Cultura which houses changing art exhibitions. Admission is free. Open Mon-Sat 2-8 pm.

Guarda also hosts a Jazz festival, Cicio de Jazz de Guarda which includes several performances a week between March to May. More information is available for the Tourist Information Office.

Getting to Guarda

Two lines coming from Lisbon journey to Guarda train station. The Beira Alta line runs three trains daily via Coimbra. Trains also come in on the Beira Baixa line via Castelo Branco and take a little longer with a change at Covilha. Shuttle buses run between the train station and the bus station with a stop at Rua Marques de Pombal.

Buses run to Covilha, Castelo Branco, Lisbon, three times daily and to Viseu, Porto and Coimbra on a less regular basis.

Car hire is available in the town or you can pre-book now. Having your own car gives you the freedom to tour round the beautiful montainous scenery of the Serra da Esrela Natural Park close by. Check out the Holiday Autos link right for a quick quote.