CASA DA TITA

Full of character and a beautiful story to go with it, Casa da Tita is a perfect little get away tucked inbetween the hills in Nave fo Barão

Casa da Tita is a small and cozy countryside indoor and outdoor spaces, and Dina Inês, the housekeeper. guesthouse located in the village of Nave Tita, the late aunt’s nickname within the family, and her do Barão integrating 5 housing units with a husband Joaquim were the owners of what once was a total capacity of 17 guests. The guesthouse farming property. The couple was very important to the was inaugurated in 2015 and has been village because not only did they teach the villagers several managed ever since by Miguel Guerreiro, a arts, such as cooking, knitting or even in subjects like former student of Translation, Hospitality mathematics and helped them financially. They would also

Management and Administration, together with the help hire many of the unemployed neighbours to work in their of Joaquim Guerreiro, the nephew of the original owners vast farming lands spread around the valley. and rightful heir of the whole property, which was built in 1952, Elisabete Luz, Joaquim’s wife and decorator of all the The guesthouse is composed of a set of buildings which

were restored according to their original outline and constructed with traditional techniques using stone and clay from the region. The late structural interventions on the residential building brought about comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and preserved the original aesthetics (the green and pink rooms). The traditional kitchen, with a chimney formerly used for smoking sausages/chorizos, was endowed with functional, guestfriendly equipment, while keeping the tableware and cooking pans which used to belong to the former owners

The warehouse, which once stored agricultural products and implements, was transformed into a front desk and a multipurpose room for breakfast, leisure, conviviality and reading. The old granary was replaced with an apartment prepared for accessible tourism. The old kitchen was restored, while the cereal warehouse was turned into a bedroom and the original bathroom adapted for people with physical limitations or a mobility related disability. The donkey shed and hayloft, where new features were reconsidered, gave way to an apartment inspired by the culture and traditions from the rural lifestyle.

The roof terraces and threshing floors (commonly designated as açoteias in the Algarve), once used for the drying of figs and almonds, gave way to inviting solariums, esplanadas, and an infinity pool with a whirlpool system. Here you can enjoy the verdant landscape, in which carob, almond, fig and olive trees are the dominant flora, and complement the enriching, peaceful, rewarding and naturerelated stay you will get at Casa da Tita, as well as the mild, sunny weather, typical from the region.

Their organic garden cared for by Joaquim Guerreiro, who took a professional course in organic farming, is filled with vegetables (zukini, onion, garlic, lettuce, cucumber, beetroot, radish, green bean, tomato, artichoke, celery, red/ green pepper) and fruit (strawberry, blackberry, apple, pear, lemon, orange, plum, pommegranate, quince, persimmon, apricot, araçá and loquat) which are generally offered in

a basket to the guests who stay longer than two nights. There are also two small herb gardens for the guests to pick up aromatic plants (parsley, coriander, orégano, thyme, among others) from in order to season their meals cooked in the available kitchens or make different kinds of tea (mint, lemongrass, lemon balm/melissa, linden and boldo).

The wine cellar is also part of Casa da Tita, where homemade wine is usually produced in September for the purpose of internal consumption or a wine tasting that guests can experience while staying at the guesthouse.

Nave do Barão is a small village located in the central region of the Algarve, about 10 km from Loulé and 20 km from the south coast. It lies in a valley that is surrounded by green hills whilst it takes advantage of the natural environment present in the region’s typical landscape and the Algarve’s pleasant and sunny weather.

The Granary Apartment (One-Bedroom Apartment)

The building, once used for the storage of the cereals and other agricultural products, was transformed into an apartment specially adapted for accessible tourism.

The Granary Apartment has a bedroom with a double bed, where an extra bed can fit as well, a living room/ kitchen fully equipped for the preparation of meals, with a single bed, and a private bathroom. Guests staying in the Granary Apartment have direct access to a small outdoor porch.

The Hayloft Apartment (Apartment with Terrace/ Rooftop)

The old donkey shed and hayloft were turned into a rustic apartment, which comprises a bedroom with two single beds and a double bunk bed, a living room/kitchen fully equipped for the preparation of meals, a private bathroom, rooftop and parking space, as well as direct access to the guesthouse’s shared and overflowing swimming pool.

The Cistern Room (Double Room)

This double room, once a cistern for the provision of water, has a double bed and a private bathroom. The cistern opening allows for the observation of the starry sky in the comfort of your bed. Guests staying in the Cistern Room have access to a terrace and a fully-equipped kitchen shared with other guests.

The Green Room (Double Room)

The old living room and guest room now include a double room with a double bed and a large private bathroom. Its original colour and stucco ceiling were preserved. Guests staying in the Green Room have access to a terrace and a fully-equipped kitchen shared with other guests.

The Pink Room (Junior Suite)

This suite preserves its original outline, ceiling and colour, and it comprises a double bedroom with a double bed, an adjacent compartment as a living room with a double sofabed, and a private bathroom. Guests staying in the Pink Room have access to a terrace and a fully-equipped kitchen shared with other guests.

Activities:

Those who visit Casa da Tita can enjoy an array of various activities related to Bio Tourism. These allow you to experience and explore the natural, historical and cultural heritage of the surrounding environment and region.

Here you will find the perfect place to take a break from the everyday city life and be in perfect harmony with nature, inviting you to discover the local fauna and flora. You can also take part in the harvest of traditional fruit from the dryland orchard (carobs, almonds, figs and olives) or agricultural activities in a polyculture vegetable garden where an organic production method is operated.

Diversified activities, in the scope of Bio-tourism:

• Organic farming • Pedestrian walks and hikes • Guided walking tours in the Protected Landscapes of Rocha da Pena, Fonte Benémola and Quinta do Freixo (minimum enrollment of 2) • Bird ringing (every Saturday morning) • Traditional farming activities • Logistical support for Via Algarviana • Cycling in the surrounding area (free bicycle rental) • Hunting on an association’s game reserve (only if prearranged, limited to one vacancy) • Homemade wine production (only in September) • Homemade wine tasting • Safaris in the region (subject to enrollment) • Quad Bikes or Buggy tours (subject to enrollment) • Guided tours to a local homemade cheese factory and a regional medronho distillery • Guided tours to the wine cellar of Adega da Tôr (depends upon availability of the wine cellar) • Guided tours to the aromatic garden and the organic garden

Traditional flavours and knowledge workshops:

• Olive harvest (only in late October or early November) • Dry figs filled with almonds • Production of liqueur with seasonal fruits and aromatic plants • Medicinal and aromatic plants (infusion, decoction, maceration, dyes, syrups, compresses and poultices) • Confectionery with fruit from the dryland orchard (carob, almond and fig)

Contact Miguel to find out about availability or more info on activities. Call 289 102 051 or visit facebook.com/ casadatita