Alentejo, the least-developed and least-populated region in western Europe, is dressed with golden plains and green vineyards and sprinkled with traditional whitewashed medieval villages. The Portuguese have preserved the villages, that had been conquered to Moors 850 years ago, and still retain traces of the Moorish presence in architecture and even in names such as Évora, Beja or Moura.  The coastline is the most stunning in Europe and yet few people seem to know about it.