The ancient town walls define the perimeter of Guarda's old town (Centro Histórico). They originate from the 13th Century and have seen various upgrades over subsequent centuries. Access to the historic centre traditionally is gained through the old city gates. The most impressive remaining gate is the Torre dos Ferreiros which is topped by a tall tower. Once passed through the Torre dos Ferreiros a short stroll along the narrow Rua da Torre leads to Praça Luís de Camões.

Guarda’s central square has managed to preserve its original medieval character. The square is lined with loggia-fronted shops selling local handicrafts, a few cafés and the Guarda visitor centre. Dominated in one corner of the Praça Luís de Camões is Guarda's impressive cathedral with a statue of Sancho I standing guard outside.

Guarda Cathedral

Within the centre of town, Guarda's Gothic Cathedral dominates the skyline. Construction started in the 14th Century, during the reign of D. João I, at the request of Dom Vasco, the Bishop of Lamego, to replace the original Romanesque church. During the next 200 years, its appearance acquired many changing architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Manueline. In the early 15th century the apse was built and construction began on the gothic nave, drawing on influences from the great abbey at Batalha. The exterior displays great sobriety marked by two massive octagonal towers that give it the appearance of a Church-Fortress, typical of an era in which Portugal's great cathedrals also represented an affirmation of nationality. By 1540 most of the construction work had been completed, including the Renaissance-style Pina Chapel, which served as a burial site for João de Pina, treasurer of the cathedral.

The ceiling is supported by twisted pillars and arched vaulting. Its masterpiece Renaissance altar is carved from white marble by French sculptor João de Ruão, gilded in the 18th century with 100 high-relief figures. Since this time more enrichments were added to the cathedral such as a Baroque-styled organ, only to be removed again during renovation work in the 19th century in view to restoring it to the cathedral's original Gothic/Manueline appearance.

Praça Luís de Camões, 6300 Guarda, Portugal. | 40° 32' 18.8" N | 07° 16' 09.7" W
Summer: June – September: 10h00m – 13h30/15h00 - 18h30
Winter: October – May: 09h00 – 12h20pm /14h00 – 17h30

Jewish Quarter (Judiaria)

As with other Beiras towns, Guarda once had a thriving Jewish community who lived within their own district or "Judiaria". In Guarda, their presence can be traced back to the 13th century. King Dom Dinis gave a Royal charter to the Jewish communities of São Vicente parish. This dynamic Jewish community offered a wide range of services to the local economy. Jewish tradesmen included: tailors, shoemakers, tanners, blacksmiths, weavers, groomers, physicists, surgeons, goldsmiths and carpenters. Before the shameful Inquisition of the 15th century, it's believed the Judiaria housed up to 850 souls. Inhabitants were forced to leave the country, convert to Catholicism or suffer an even worse fate. For those who became "New Christians," their doorframes were inscribed with crosses symbolising the Christianisation of the home. Many can still be seen today. The old Judiaria is located close to the Porta D'El Rei and remains very well preserved. A walk through these narrow cobble streets feels like a true step back in time.

Castle Tower

On the highest part of Guarda sits the remains of a castle keep, the Torre de Menagem. It is built in an irregular pentagonal profile and sits on a granite outcrop. A stairway ascends from the centre and the views are well worth the effort climbing to the top. There's a small museum inside.

Museu da Guarda

Guarda's museum was founded in 1940 and is located within a former episcopal palace. This insightful museum takes you on a chronological journey through time focusing on the cultural history of the city and surrounding areas. Within the fine 17th-century building there are more than 4,800 artefacts dating from Guarda's earliest origins.

The museum is categorised into various areas according to a theme, including geography, economy, traditional garments, crafts and folk art. Exhibits include archaeological artefacts dating from pre-roman times, religious art, ceramics, 19th-century paintings and antique firearms.

30 Rua Alves Roçadas, 6300-663 Guarda, Portugal. | 40° 32' 14.9" N | 07° 16' 04.1" W
Tuesday – Sunday: 09h00m – 12h30/14h00 - 17h30, Monday: CLOSED

One of Guardas oldest monuments is located outside the centre of town in an urban area. The exact date of the chapel is open for conjecture but the architectural style suggests the chapel dates from the 11th-12th century, prior to the Moorish occupation. This robust granite Romanesque chapel is an ancient place of pilgrimage en route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. There is some interesting artistic feature found in the interior including the columns featuring medieval anthropomorphic motifs. Roman ruins have recently been unearthed next to the chapel.

Squeezed between the northern slopes of the Serra da Estrela and the Mondego river is the marvellous village of Celorico da Beira which has been perched on this site since before Roman times. Evidence of human presence date to 500BC attributed to Bardili (Turduli) tribes who occupied this area of Portugal.

The first fortifications of the town were built by the Romans and traces of their presence still remain. The Romanesque-Gothic castle overlooking the village is a testament to past conflicts against Castile, The Moors and Napoleon's armies.

Within the narrow medieval streets, you can find many marvels such as the clock tower, ancient granite buildings and archways. The Church of Misericórdia has a façade displaying a fine example of the Baroque style. Inside, the main altar is elegant and there are also paintings by Isidro Faria. The town's narrow streets also feature a rare collection of Gothic doorways and Manueline windows.

Celorico da Beira has found fame for its Queijo da Serra made from the milk of ewes which graze on the slopes of the nearby mountain. Between the months of December and May, a market dedicated to this cheese is held every Tuesday, a tradition that dates back to the 13th century. Other local delicacies include smoked sausages and hams. All make excellent accompaniments to the local Beira Interior wines.
40º 38' 12.2'' N | 07º 23' 32.6'' W

Situated on the western slopes of the Serra da Estrela, Linhares da Beira is a 12th-century medieval village boasting unequalled architectural and artistic diversity. Simple granite houses stand side by side with manor-houses still displaying signs of their ancient nobility. At an elevation of 800 metres stands the town's imposing castle. Rebuilt in the 13th century by king D. Dinis, most probably on the ruins of a Moorish fortification, it was part of the front-line defences of the Beira region and the best place for surveying the land around. The parish church, originally Romanesque, was rebuilt in the 17th century. It has three valuable wood paintings attributed to the great Portuguese master painter Vasco Fernandes (Grão Vasco). Wandering around the streets of this museum village the visitor is transported back to another epoch. 40° 32' 25.1" N | 07° 27' 41.4" W