Guarda, Portugal

Guarda (European Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɡwaɾðɐ] ^ⓘ) is a city and a municipality in the District of Guarda and the capital of the Beiras e Serra da Estrela sub-region in northern Portugal. The population in 2021 was 40,126, in an area of 712.10 square kilometres (274.94 sq mi) with 31,224 inhabitants in the city proper in 2006. Founded by King Sancho I in 1199, Guarda is the city located at the highest altitude in Portugal (1,056 m (3,465 ft) a.s.l.) and one of the most important cities in the Portuguese region of Beira Alta. Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in continental Portugal, is partially located in the district. The city is served by national and international trains on the Beira Alta and Baixa railway lines. The present mayor is Sérgio Costa, as an independent. The municipal holiday is November 27.

Guarda is known as the "city of the five F's": Farta, Forte, Fria, Fiel e Formosa - abundant (or totally satisfied), strong, cold, loyal and beautiful. The explanation of the five F's is as follows:

Guarda is the largest city in its district, capital of the Guarda District and the Beira Interior Norte Subregion within the Centro Region. The municipality is bordered by Pinhel to the north, to the east by Almeida, to the southeast by Sabugal, to the south by Belmonte and Covilhã, to the west by Manteigas and Gouveia, and to the northwest by Celorico da Beira.

Guarda is the highest city in continental Portugal (altitude 1,056 m), located to the northeast of Serra da Estrela (the largest mountain in mainland Portugal). The main attraction in Guarda is its cathedral, known as the Sé da Guarda. Guarda is a diocese of the same name.

Guarda railway station is served by the railway line Linha da Beira Alta, with international services towards Salamanca and Madrid, and domestic services to Pinhel, Vila Franca das Naves/Trancoso, Celorico da Beira, Gouveia, Nelas, Carregal do Sal, Santa Comba Dão, Mortagua, Luso/Buçaco and Pampilhosa. The station at Guarda has (2013) eighteen daily arrivals and departures of passenger trains and there is a small freight terminal. The section of the Linha da Beira Baixa which runs from Guarda through Belmonte/Sabugal, Covilhã, Fundão, Castelo Branco and Abrantes to Entroncamento is operating again, having been closed in 2010 between Guarda and Covilhã.

The main motorways are A25 (Aveiro, Viseu, Guarda, Vilar Formoso) and A23 (Guarda, Covilhã, Fundão, Castelo Branco, Abrantes, Torres Novas). Numerous motorcoach (long distance bus) services use these motorways to link Guarda with Porto, Lisbon and other Portuguese cities.

Guarda is the antipode to Puponga in New Zealand.

Guarda has a cool Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb) with some oceanic and continental influences. It has lower average temperatures than most climates of this subtype, in part due to its high altitude. Winters are cool and wet, and summers are warm and dry. Of the district capitals of Portugal, Guarda tends to experience the most snowfall, averaging about 12 days per year.