GUARDA  , an episcopal

city and the capital of an administrative district bearing the same name, and formerly in the province of Beira, Portugal; on the Guarda-Abrantes and Lisbon-Villar Formoso railways . Pop . (1900) 6124 . Guarda is situated 3370 ft. above sea-level, at the north-eastern extremity of the Serra da Estrella, overlooking the fertile valley of the river C6a . It is surrounded by ancient walls, and contains a ruined castle, a fine 16th-century cathedral and a sanatorium for consumptives . Its industries comprise the manufacture of coarse cloth and the sale of grain, wine and live stock . In 1199 Guarda was founded, on the site of the Roman Lencia Oppidana, by Sancho I. of Portugal, who intended it, as its name implies, to be a " guard " against Moorish invasion . The administrative district of Guarda coincides with north-eastern Beira; pop . (1900), 261,630; area, 1665 sq. m .