Easy hikes and walks around Benespera

It features a coat of arms as a shield, wrapped in plant ornamentation, and a helmet. It was built in the 18th century and originally stood on an estate in the municipality of Vela (Guarda district) belonging to the Refóios Saraiva family.

The statue, in honor of D. Sancho I (second King of Portugal), was inaugurated on May 28, 1956. The pedestal bears the inscription: "D. Sancho I, 2nd King of Portugal 1185 – 1211, granted Guarda city charter on November 27, 1199."

Belmonte, one of the twelve Historic Villages of Portugal, is the home of Pedro Álvares Cabral and guardian of the country's largest Jewish community, a legacy that endured centuries of Inquisition. Between walls and memories, mystique and history abound, with the Serra da Estrela on one side and the Malcata Reserve on the other. The food completes the enchantment: Jewish flavors like fried offal coexist with broths, migas, esparregados, and traditional Beira sweets: rice pudding, papas de carolo, and filhós. Here, the landscape and the food merge into a delightful experience.

Classified as a National Monument, Belmonte Castle is an unavoidable symbol of the town's history. Built in the 13th century, it still preserves the imposing walls that form an open-air amphitheater, open to time and memory. In the 15th century, the fortress was transformed into a fortified manor house for the family of Pedro Álvares Cabral, the navigator who was born within these walls. A notable detail remains in the Manueline window of one of the facades: the family coat of arms carved into the granite, a true masterpiece from which you can see the Serra da Estrela mountain range.

St. James' Church and the Cabrais Pantheon, adjacent to the left, are a national monument encompassing these two spaces. They are examples of late Romanesque architecture dating back to the mid-13th century.

It has been classified as property of public interest since 1933. On one side, you can see the municipal coat of arms. This pillory is not the original from the 14th century, but a reconstruction.

The city of Guarda, known as the highest city in Portugal, has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. Founded by King Sancho I in 1199, the city played a crucial role in defending the Portuguese border and in the country's history. The city is home to several historic buildings, such as the Church of São Vicente, the former Convent of São Francisco, and the Guarda Museum, housed in the former Episcopal Palace. The city has undergone continuous development, honoring its past and seeking modernization, without losing sight of its historical and cultural heritage. 👍

Pedro Álvares Cabral, the man who gave Europe Brazil, was born high up in Cova da Beira, with the Serra da Estrela on the horizon. But the history of Belmonte begins much earlier: among dolmens, forts and the enigmatic Torre de Centum Cellas. A town of walls, synagogues and conquests, it was the scene of Romans, Jews and Portuguese heroes. Today, it continues to stand firm on a beautiful hill — true to its name and its legendary past.