Places to visit in Portugal
| Silver Coast |
| Algarve |
| Centre of Portugal |
| The Alentejo |
| Lisbon |
| Porto and the North of Portugal |
Facts on Portugal
| Visit Guarda |
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In Portugal’s highest city, mountain air, pure and healthy, gently blows through the mediaeval streets, their nobility and dark colour lent by the granite. In the 14th century, Fernando, King of Portugal, spent time here recovering from a lung disease. Lofty, immense and imposing, its mighty towers rising up as a symbol of defending the faith and Portugal, the Cathedral leads the way to Guarda’s historic centre. If you are dazzled by the Gothic-inspired design and decoration of its exterior, waiting for you inside is the surprise of the overwhelming height of the naves and an enormous altarpiece carved in stone, a masterpiece created by the master mason, João de Ruão. Around this monument pulsates the heart of the city, protected by mediaeval battlements, gateways and towers that have survived almost intact to the present time. Stop for a coffee under the 16th century arcades of the main square adjacent to the Cathedral before exploring the narrow streets from which gargoyles peer, hanging over the edges, where Gothic windows are engraved and granite palaces stand to attention. Follow in the footsteps of our mediaeval ancestors, passing under the mighty arches of the mediaeval gateways and climb the towers to enjoy the extensive and magnificent views that stretch as far as Spain. Include in your stroll the Jewish quarter near the battlements, evocative of a Jewish community in the Middle Ages that left the marks of their religious symbols in the stone of their houses.  |
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