The district of Guarda is located mostly in the region of Beira Interior, and the counties of Meda and Vila Nova de Foz Coa, in the region of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro.
Its territory is mostly mountainous, formed by elevations of various altitudes, reaching its maximum height in the Serra da Estrela, with 1991 meters, whose characteristics is now the main tourist draw in the region.
For its mountains, it flows the Zêzere, Douro and Mondego river, while in winter, its mountains are covered with snow and in the summer turn into green forests.
In addition to the various existing churches throughout the district, there are the medieval walls of Castelo Mendo, and the square of the thirteenth century and the village of Almeida, both in the county of Almeida, awarded with the project "Historical Villages of Portugal", in existence since 1994 . It also highlights the artistic whole of the parish of Malhada Sorda, in the village of Almeida, located in Guarda county, where the granite coexists with the paintings.
In the district, also highlights other elements that are the stretch of Roman road of Galhardos in the city of Gouveia, classified as property of public interest in 1992 by the IPPAR or the Anta the or Orca de Cortiçô, megalithic monument located in the parish of Cortiçô, village of Fornos de Algodres also classified as a building of public interest in 1992 by the IPPAR.
The capital of the district is the city of Guarda, located on the slopes of the Serra da Estrela, being the highest city in Portugal, with 1,056 meters of altitude.
Guarda has a broad cultural and architectural heritage, mostly located in the historic city center, between them, most notably the Tower of the Guarda Castle, the Guarda's Cathedral and the Guarda Jewish Quarter.
Nearby, it´s possible to visit the village of Sabugueiro, situated in the valleys of Serra da Estrela, considered the highest village of Portugal or a tour to the Planalto da Torre (monument that marks the highest point of the Serra da Estrela) to sliding snow for the Serra da Estrela, or Long Lake, the largest lake of Serra da Estrela and Seia, city of ancient origin, where the grazing and cheese production continue to be the main activity.
In the district of Guarda, is also located in the Archaeological Park of the Coa Valley, created in 1966 in Vila Nova de Foz Coa, where are archaeological findings of cave paintings, with 20 thousand years, classified in 1998 as World Heritage, by UNESCO.
The local gastronomy is rich and varied, being one of its main attractions, with higher expression in the famous sheep cheese from Serra da Estrela, the most important product of the region. Also featuring for the varieties of bread in the county, the corn bread, the mix bread, of rye, or the Serra's cheese, the rice pudding, the roast little sheep, the Grand broth, the cod and the Lagareiro octopus.
