- Anne de Stoops love affair with Portugal began over twenty years ago, and her knowledge and infectious delight are reflected in this book. Her lively text vividly evokes the countrys great diversity: the Minho and Douro regions in the North of Portugal, renowned for their fertile landscapes and famous port wines; the busy markets of Oporto; the elegant country estates and lavish gardens, whose sophisticated designs reflect a rich architectural heritage; the urban pleasures and baroque opulence of Lisbon; the bright colors and sparkling white villages of the sun-drenched Alentejo; and the unspoiled beaches of the Algarve, where the vestiges of five centuries of Muslim civilization contribute to the unique charm of this region on the Mediterranean Sea.