Almeida (European Portuguese pronunciation: [alˈmɐjðɐ] ⓘ) is a fortified village[1] and a municipality in the sub-region of Beira Interior Norte and the District of Guarda, Portugal.

The town's castle fortress was completed in 1641[5] and is located to the north of the village and is approached through the two tunnel gates and dry moat named the Portas de São Francisco.

The present 12 pointed star fortification was constructed in 1641 to a Vaubanesque plan on which the French military engineer is believed to have personally worked,[9] during the castle's final stages of completion.

The siege of 1810, during the Peninsular War,[13] ended spectacularly when a chance shell ignited the main gunpowder magazine, which exploded, killing 500 defenders and destroying most of the town.

[15] The food, wood and marble and granite processing industries are the most representative, although in general this sector is characterised by low productivity and occupies only about 5% of the working population of the municipality.

The tertiary sector assumes some expression in the parishes of Almeida and Vilar Formoso: Almeida, due to the fact that the administrative services inherent to a county seat, some bank agencies, law and accountancy offices as well as some traditional commerce and small hotels are located there; Vilar Formoso, due to its dynamics as the main land border, presents a significant number of bank agencies, hotels and commercial establishments.

Those who want to go north, namely to the cities of Porto, Aveiro, Braga, Guimarães or Viana do Castelo have to make an additional transfer at Pampilhosa or Coimbra-B stations.