Duas Quintas
Duas Quintas is a traditional rural guest house located a few minutes outside the town of Silves in the Algarve region of Portugal.
Literally, Duas Quintas means "the two farms", and this describes how the property was bought in 2005 before its renovation work began.
Before becoming a rural guest house, Duas Quintas was the home of a hermit priest who lived in a small chapel or ´Ermida´, providing the neighbouring houses with religious teaching and company. The chapel was still standing, although unused until the revolution of 1974, but unfortunately no trace remains today.
Between the period of a hermit's habitat and a popular guesthouse, Duas Quintas was a thriving fruit and vegetable farm. After the death of its owners, and the division of the property, the farm lost its reputation as a thriving fruit and vegetable farm. Neighbours to Duas Quintas will still comment on the farm in its former glory, when workers from around the valley would gather for harverting and planting, with many of them staying overnight and partying into the morning.
Today, a six bedroom traditional Algarve guest house exists. Many of the fruit and vegetables still grow, and guests are served fresh orange juice for breakfast picked from the surrounding fields.
Recently, Duas Quintas has grown to become a popular Algarve guest house attracting visitors from all over Europe, all seeking to enjoy the tranquility of the Algarve countryside.