The Municipality of Guarda is located in the center of the Beirã region, between the Guarda-Sabugal Plateau and the Serra da Estrela. This privileged location allows its approximately 712.11 km2 of area to be shared by the watersheds of watercourses as important as the Mondego, Zêzere and Côa Rivers. The Municipality of Guarda confines the spring with the municipalities of Pinhel, Almeida and Sabugal, to the south with those of Belmonte and Covilhã, and to the west with Manteigas, Gouveia and Celorico da Beira. The city of Guarda -which had its first Foral on November 27, 1199, granted by D. Sancho I, the King Villager – is the capital of The District and its Municipality has, according to the 2011 Census, a total of 42 541 inhabitants. Both for its area, or by the number of inhabitants, or by the number of parishes, the municipality of Guarda is one of the largest Portuguese municipalities. Heir to a rich and unique cultural heritage, Guarda encloses in its walls more than 800 years of history and holds one of the most beautiful and best preserved heritage built in the whole country. At the highest point of the city stands the Keep, the ultimate symbol of all the defensive structure and sign of the courage of these people who over the centuries have defended the Portuguese border. The Cathedral, true icon of the City, has constructive and aesthetic qualities that impose it as one of the largest monuments in the history of Portuguese architecture. The purity of the Air that is breathed here justifies the tradition of city of health and well-being, which, along with the cultural, sports and leisure equipment make this Mountain Land one of the best places to live and visit
