GUARDA, an episcopal city of Portugal on the Guarda Abrantes and Lisbon-Villar Formoso railways. Pop. (1930) 7,158. It is 3,370 ft. above sea-level, at the north-eastern extremity of the Serra da Estrella, overlooking the fertile valley of the river Coa. It contains a ruined castle, a fine 16th century cathedral and a sanatorium for consumptives. Its industries comprise the manu facture of coarse cloth. In 1199 Guarda was founded, on the site of the Roman Leticia Oppidana, by Sancho I. of Portugal, who intended it to be a "guard" against Moorish invasion. The administrative district of Guarda coincides with north-eastern Beira; pop. (193o) 267,614; area, 1,065 sq.m.