Discover the district of Guarda, a memorable destination where story-telling monuments guide you through Portugal’s earliest days.

Originally founded in the 12^th Century by the second king of Portugal, D. Sancho I, the capital of Guarda lies in the mountainous landscape of Serra da Estrela and is regarded as the highest city in the country, standing at an impressive height of 1,056 metres (3,500 feet). Torre is the highest peak in the range (1,993 metres/6,500 feet), as well as the highest in mainland Portugal and is home to the famous ski resort of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park.

Nearby you can find the quaint mountaintop villages of Seia and Manteigas, splendid places to visit any time of the year, whether you prefer skiing on beautiful snow-covered hills or taking peaceful nature hikes by the Zêzere river.

Known for its vital role as a frontier during the Middle Ages, Guarda (meaning ‘guard’) still holds many of the colossal castles that once fortified the country. These can be visited in towns such as Figueira do Castelo, Pinhel and Almeida. Make sure you see the Castle of Sabugal and the Castle of Sortelha, excellent representations of the powerful military-inspired style that characterises these monumental structures.

Trancoso is one of Guarda’s most interesting towns for its countless religious landmarks, medieval Jewish quarter and traditional atmosphere. Travel further into time, beyond the Middle Ages and get a glimpse of the fascinating archaeological park of Foz Côa, a site containing one of the largest open-air collections of Palaeolithic engravings in the world.

Places to see

Historical and Cultural Sites

Guarda's Cathedral (Guarda)
This cathedral stands in the heart of Guarda and is regarded as the most significant attraction in the district. Although its construction was initiated towards the end of the 12^th Century under the rule of D. João I, the cathedral was only completed in the 16^th Century. As a result of the years it took to build the structure, the monument possesses a combination of Gothic and Manueline architecture. In the 19^th Century, Portuguese architect Rosendo Carvalheira restored parts of the cathedral – some of the best revivalist work seen in the country today.

Guarda’s Museum (Guarda)
Put your travelling books aside and unveil Guarda’s earliest origins at this inviting museum. Organised into several sections according to theme, from geography and economy, to captivating examples of traditional dress, crafts and art, this museum will teach you everything there is to know about the historical heritage of this remarkable district.

Jewish Quarters (Guarda)
During the Middle Ages, Guarda was home to a hard-working Jewish community who contributed largely to the region’s economical and social development. In the 15^th Century, Portuguese Jews became victims of the ruthless persecution stirred by the Inquisition and were forced to convert to Catholicism or flee the country. Walk around the silent, cobble-stoned streets of Guarda’s Jewish quarters and find typical low-rise houses, remains of medieval walls and narrow passageways that seem to lead you further into the past. In Trancoso, visit the Casa do Gato Negro, the ‘House of the Black Cat’, an old building believed to have been home to a rabbi or maybe, a synagogue.

Corgas da Matança Dolmen (Fornos de Algodres)
Also known as the Orca de Corgas da Matança, this dolmen (portal tomb) is an extraordinary relic that has provided its visitors with a deeper understanding of those who lived in the Iberian Peninsula during the Neolithic Period. Nine pillar-shaped stones (some with engravings) holding a large, horizontal stone, compose this impressive 4 metre-tall megalithic monument.

Excavated Medieval Graves (Fornos de Algodres)
The municipality of Fornos de Algodres is often sought-after by history-lovers for its excavated graves – an impressive trace left from the Middle Ages. A common characteristic these graves share is the fact that they have been found in groups of what seem to be necropoli. The town of Vila Ruiva e Forcadas is home to a popular site and a place to visit if you are a curious traveller.

Archaeological Park of Foz Côa (Vila Nova de Foz Côa)
The Archaeological Park of Foz Côa is an officially protected site known for being one of the largest and most important collections of Palaeolithic art in Europe. Ever since its first discovery in 1991, over 20 groups of rocks with delicately engraved depictions of man and nature have been found throughout the Côa Valley – an amazing representation of mankind’s earliest artistic abilities.

20 Frontier Castles Tour of Guarda (Guarda)
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime trip back to Guarda’s medieval days and enjoy this truly exciting tour. With over 20 frontier castles to see, as well as many historical villages and ruins, you will have the opportunity to explore Guarda in depth and visit some of the frontier castles in its neighbouring districts, Castelo Branco and Coimbra.

The district of Aveiro captures the essence of the perfect picture-book destination, with its colourful gondola-shaped boats, natural lagoons, elegant 19^th Century architecture and traditional cobblestone passageways – this is a special place where old meets new.

Situated in the Baixo Vouga sub-region between the Atlantic Ocean and the mountainous surroundings of its neighbouring districts, Aveiro’s rich landscape is characterised by its sandy coast, beautiful estuary, gardens and parks.

Commonly nicknamed the ‘Portuguese Venice’, the enchanting capital city of Aveiro is crossed by a shimmering canal and is considered one of the most charming destinations in the country for its brightly patterned moliceiro boats, array of pastel-tinted Art Nouveau buildings and its calm urban atmosphere – a scenic backdrop for your holiday.

While in the city centre, make your way to the famous Mercado do Peixe, a traditional fish market that houses one of Aveiro’s most acclaimed seafood restaurants. A variety of dining establishments, as well as a fun selection of bars and shops can all be found nearby. Stop at any typical café whenever strolling through the city and taste the heavenly ovos moles, the district’s sugary, egg-based delicacy. Also be sure to enjoy one of the many free-hire BUGA bicycles during your holiday and ride along Aveiro’s glistening canal, its picturesque streets and visit some of its foremost attractions.

Travel further into the district and discover Ílhavo, a seaside city that represents Aveiro’s thriving maritime heritage and home to the internationally acclaimed Vista Alegre porcelain factory. See Portugal’s oldest lighthouse in Praia da Barra and stop by Praia da Costa Nova to find Aveiro’s iconic, multicoloured striped houses. These beaches are also excellent spots for soothing days in the sun and to enjoy an array of water sports.

Taste the ‘convent sweets’ that the town of Arouca is so well-known for and visit the southern city of Mealhada to enjoy a traditional meal of suckling pig and regional Bairrada wine. To complete your holiday, find relaxation in Luso and Curia, two quaint towns known for their magnificent hot springs and natural beauty.

Places to see

Religious Architecture

Igreja da Misericórdia (Our Lady of Mercy Church)
This church is one of the most charming examples of religious architecture in the district. Built towards the end of the 16^th Century, this monument displays traditional blue-and-white tile work on its façade, Renaissance features on its portals and a lovely selection of colourful azulejos in its interior.

Convento de Jesus (The Jesus Convent)
Founded in the 15^th Century, this former Dominican convent is strongly associated to Aveiro’s most influential Princess – Saint Joan of Portugal. Famed for her lifelong devotion to religion, the Princess joined the convent in 1472 and lived there until her death. Today, you can visit the intricately sculpted marble tomb where this Princess saint has been laid to rest, as well as admire the detailed Baroque motifs, Manueline portals, Renaissance inspired cloisters and Mannerist chapels that beautify this historical monument.

Museums

Museu da Vista Alegre (Vista Alegre Museum)
Aveiro is home to the renowned Vista Alegre porcelain, an example of Portugal’s long tradition in ceramics. Situated within the original factory where these dainty works of art are produced, this museum is one of the district’s most sought-after attractions. Admire historical vestiges of the brand’s first pieces, glimpse through old sketches and learn how the tools used to create these porcelain wonders have evolved through time.

Museu de Aveiro (Aveiro Museum)
Located within the grandiose Convento de Jesus, this museum is regarded as one of the most significant sacred arts museums in the country. This museum exhibits a collection of Portuguese 17^th and 18^th Century paintings, meticulous tile work, elegantly carved features in gold, as well as a rich display of vestments, jewellery and valuable relics.

Museu Marítimo de Ílhavo (Ílhavo Maritime Museum)
This museum displays an interesting selection of Aveiro’s maritime ethnography, including fascinating examples of the district’s first moliceiro boats, a variety of navigation tools and pictures, as well as the largest collection of rare seashells in the country. In 2003, this popular museum was distinguished with the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award for Contemporary Architecture for its modern design.

Nature

Parque Infante D. Pedro (Infante D. Pedro Park)
Spend a few moments away from the city centre and enjoy peaceful moments in one of Aveiro’s prettiest parks. Walk throughout abundant gardens, experience a soothing boat ride on a calm lagoon and visit the Hunting and Fishing museum located within the grounds – a great setting to enjoy a serene afternoon.

Reserva Natural das Dunas de São Jacinto (São Jacinto Nature Reserve)
Located at the tip of the beautiful São Jacinto peninsula between the sea and the estuary, this magnificent reserve is one of the most acclaimed natural sites in the country. Since its inauguration in the late 1970s, marshes, unspoilt lagoons and sand dunes have become a habitat for local flora and fauna and is also regarded as a popular bird sanctuary.
Be sure to experience a tour throughout this inspiring reserve, whether you prefer to follow its walking trails or enjoy a trip on the wonderful moliceiro boats.

Recommended Aveiro Hotels
Hotel Moliceiro

Best known for its velvety red wines and luscious gastronomic delights, Viseu will entice you with its vibrant folklore festivals, pastoral scenery and plentiful collection of cultural gems.

Roughly half way between Porto and Coimbra, the rural district of Viseu nestles in the heart of the winemaking Dão-Lafões sub-region, a landscape formed by lush pine forests, crystalline rivers and some of the most reputable vineyards in the country.

Across the western border of the district lays the Serra do Caramulo, a 1,075 metre-high (3,500 feet) range known for its fresh mountain water, sleepy schist villages and golden-coloured honey. On clear, sunny days one may climb Caramulinho, the highest peak on the range, to enjoy dramatic views of the distant Serra da Estrela (Mountains of the stars).

You will find the district’s prime attractions in its capital – the city of Viseu. Head to the historical Adro da Sé square and enter the richly embellished cathedral that stands in its centre. Go to the nearby Renaissance art museum and let your eyes wander from painting to painting and book a wine tour of the Solar do Dão to reward your taste buds with slow-paced sips of this region’s full-bodied wine. Also explore the Cava do Viriato, a pentagonal shaped park believed to have once been the military camp of the Lusitanian leader Viriato – a legendary warrior who protected Viseu from Roman invaders long ago.

Try the district’s renowned smoked ham and exquisite sparkling wine in the northern city of Lamego and be sure to visit some of its most significant religious landmarks such as the 12^th Century Santa Maria de Almacave Church and the São Pedro de Balsemão Chapel – the second oldest temple in the Iberian Peninsula.

The hilltop town of Sernancelhe is home to a wonderful medley of lovely manor houses and palaces and is widely known for its esteemed pilgrimage site, the 17^th Century Nossa Senhora da Lapa Sanctuary. Three times a year, religious mass’s and processions are held to honour this local saint – an age-old tradition that continues to attract large crowds of faithful pilgrims from all over the country. To discover typical homes constructed from schist stone, visit Aldeia da Pena and Aldeia da Póvoa Dão, picturesque villages that exemplify the medieval influence that still remains in many parts of the district today.

Places to see

Religious Architecture

Sé Catedral de Viseu (Cathedral of Viseu)
This 13^th Century cathedral is one of the oldest monuments in the district and Viseu’s most sought after attraction for its unusual blend of architectural styles and enchanting location. Take time to admire every angle of this magnificent work of art, from its austere Mannerist façade, to the rich Baroque-inspired ornamentation that embellishes its interior. Two cloisters, one of which is Renaissance, are also part of this beautiful structure. A vast collection of religious relics can be seen in the Sacred Arts Museum located on the top level of the cathedral.

Igreja da Misericórdia (Our Lady of Mercy Church)
This Rococo church has an elevated position above Viseu in the Adro da Sé square, where you can delight in remarkable views of the landscape below. Often compared to a traditional manor house, this 18^th Century church stands out amongst its neighbouring granite buildings (Grão Vasco Museum and Sé Cathedral) with its traditional whitewashed walls, charming bell towers and intricately sculpted features on its façade and interior.

Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Our Lady of Good Remedy Sanctuary)
The Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Sanctuary is one of the most influential sites in the district and attracts many visitors, whether for worship or sheer curiosity. Walk up a 600-step staircase surrounded by superbly manicured gardens to reach the top of the hill and explore this marvellous landmark. Reflecting the time in which it was built (1705–1905), florid Baroque-inspired features, delicately painted blue and white tiles, wooden sculptures and colourful stained-glass windows are some of the exquisite details that characterise this remarkable temple.

Nature

Termas de São Pedro do Sul (Hot Springs in São Pedro do Sul)
Enjoy true peace of mind in São Pedro do Sul’s famous hot springs, a place where a legacy of kings once visited for the natural therapeutic properties this magnificent setting possesses. Including a vast array of modern equipment and facilities, this healing haven is an idyllic destination to treat respiratory complaints, rheumatism, skin conditions and more, as well as the perfect setting to experience the pleasures of beauty and leisure surrounded by nature at its best.

Reserva Botânica de Cambarinho (Cambarinho Nature Reserve)
The awe-inspiring Reserva Botânica de Cambarinho is a protected reserve containing the largest group of rhododendra in Europe. During May and June, nature lovers and avid hikers can admire 59 acres (24 hectares) of mountainous landscape bloom into a blanket of bright purple petals – an extraordinary sight.

Museums

Museu Grão Vasco (Grão Vasco Museum)
Named after one of the country’s most acclaimed Renaissance artists, the Grão Vasco Museum is undoubtedly one of Viseu’s most cherished highlights. Exhibiting the works of 15^th Century Portuguese artists, this museum shows a rich collection of oil paintings, water colour canvases and sculpture, as well as traditional crafts and tapestry. Be sure to see Grão Vasco’s most famed masterpiece – a series of paintings depicting the life of Christ that once decorated the city’s cathedral.

Museu do Caramulo (Caramulo Museum)
Founded in the 1950s’ by two art-passionate brothers, Abel and João de Lacerda, the Caramulo Museum contains one of the most diverse collections in Viseu. Considered to be the first of its kind in the country, this museum shows the works of prestigious artists such as Vieira da Silva, Amadeo Souza Cardoso, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, as well as a magnificent automobile exhibition that will drive you through time with its charming display of old cars – all personal items donated by the museum’s founders.

Steeped in history and long regarded as Portugal’s cultural and intellectual centre, the district of Coimbra is a timeless destination that has inspired the works of acclaimed poets and writers, a long-standing tradition of soulful Fado serenades and a truly unique legacy of high-spirited academic rituals.

Coimbra is spread before the lovely Mondego river (the longest in the country) and is located between the central Portuguese districts of Aveiro and Viseu.

Chronicled as the most historic city in the region, the capital of Coimbra cradles some of the district’s most revered customs and monuments. After years of Roman occupation and Medieval rule, traces of Coimbra’s earliest days are scattered throughout the district and can be found in the historical port town of Figueira da Foz, Montemor-o-Velho’s imposing 9th Century castle and the ancient ruins of Conímbriga.

At the city’s highest point, you will find the prestigious University of Coimbra and its majestic 18th Century library, as well as the enchanting Botanic Garden. Also sharing this hilltop location is the 16^th Century New Cathedral (Sé Nova) and the popular Machado de Castro art museum.

With its countless steps leading down to the historic centre, the Quebra Costas stairway (literally ‘the backbreaker’) has become a landmark in its own right. Here, you will find dynamic streets filled with typical restaurants and bars, shops of all sorts and many cafés. The Old Cathedral (Sé Velha), the City Hall and the Santa Cruz Church are some of the main attractions in the area and definitely worth a visit.

Every year, Coimbra attracts visitors with its vivacious academic celebrations, where enthusiastic crowds of students proudly parade their black cloaks throughout the city’s streets, chant cheerful folk songs and fill the air with the sound of guitars playing melodious Fado tunes. One of the most popular traditions is the Queima das Fitas, a graduation ceremony that takes place every May, when students burn ribbons to symbolise the end of their academic days.

Another attraction well worth visiting is the popular Portugal dos Pequenitos theme park, located on the south side of the river; a wonderful place where visitors of all ages can explore small-scale replicas of typical Portuguese villages, national monuments and buildings. Also be sure to see the intriguing ruins of the nearby Santa Clara-a-Velha Monastery.

Places to see

Religious Architecture

Igreja de Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Church)
Once an important meeting place for the country’s intellectual elite, this former monastery has been designated a Panteão Nacional since 2003 and holds the tombs of Portugal’s first kings – D. Afonso Henriques and D. Sancho I. Although founded during the 12^th Century, the structure was completely renovated four centuries later by King D. Manuel I, who changed the original architecture of the monastery to Manueline. The Renaissance ‘Manga Cloisters’ are a prime feature of the church and were given this name after sketched outlines of the cloisters were found on the sleeve (manga) of King João III’s doublet.

Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha (Santa Clara-a-Velha Monastery)
The fascinating ruins of this monastery are one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture in the country. After the death of King D. Dinis in the 14^th Century, Queen Elizabeth of Portugal (also known as the ‘Holy Queen’ or the ‘Peacemaker’) founded the monastery and dedicated the rest of her life to religion. Due to her profound devotion and generosity, the Queen was beatified after her death and became one of Portugal’s most esteemed saints. This monument also marks the place where Inês de Castro, the legendary ill-fated lady-in-waiting, would be murdered years later for pursuing her love affair with Prince Pedro, the soon-to-be king of Portugal.

Nature

Mata Nacional do Choupal (Choupal National Forest)
Named after its many poplar trees (choupos) this forest was planted during the 18^th Century to stem the Mondego river. Today, visitors can enjoy its peaceful riverside atmosphere, admire beautiful trees, play sports or even go horseback riding.

Quinta das Lágrimas (Quinta das Lágrimas Gardens)
This romantic garden echoes the tragic love story between Inês de Castro and Prince Pedro – a legend that has inspired literature, poetry and song. Filled with ancient trees and fountains, a 19^th Century palace and Neo-Gothic ruins, you will find yourself surrounded by true beauty. The famous ‘Fountain of Tears’, as well as the scarlet-coloured vegetation found within it, symbolically evoke the tears shed and the blood spilt by Inês de Castro when she was tragically executed in 1355 under the order of Prince Pedro’s father, King Afonso IV.

Historical Sites

Universidade de Coimbra (University of Coimbra)
Originally founded in Lisbon under the order of King D. Dinis, this esteemed university was transferred to Coimbra in 1537, where it still remains today. Apart from the grandiose architecture of the structure, the 18^th Century Joanina Library is its greatest treasure and will dazzle you with its Baroque-inspired opulence, magnificent trompe d’oeil paintings and endless bookcases. Containing a total of 250,000 books, these age-old relics have been impeccably preserved with the help of a colony of bats who dwell in the library and feed on insects during the night.

Conímbriga
Conímbriga is one of Portugal’s largest excavated Roman sites and is a fantastic place to experience a glimpse of the past. Artefacts found during excavations prove that Coimbra was first inhabited between the 8– 9 Centuries BC, but only emerged as a prosperous society during Roman occupation towards the first half of the 2^nd Century BC. City walls, mosaics, surprising examples of advanced water systems, thermal baths and buildings can all be admired. The Conímbriga Museum is one the most popular in the district and contains an interesting array of objects found during the site’s excavations.

Recommended Coimbra Hotels
Hotel Astoria Coimbra