History of Alijó:
The council of Alijó has a lot to see and experience, in a variety of forms and in the different seasons of the year varying from one village to another.
Walking through the main town Alijó gives us a good picture of this variety.
The architectonic heritage is vast. Next to the town hall, in the ancient part of the town, is the Pillory – classified as Building of public Interest. Some of the other monuments to visit are: the Parish Church built in the 18th century, dedicated to Santa Maria Maior; the fountain in front of the church; the square in front of the Town Hall; the monument in honour of the Douro Man –witnesses by this council his historic vitality and main activity: the art and struggle of wine growing.
Also important is the big tree, planted in 1856, the Senhor do Andor Chapel with its baroque altar dated from the 17th century, the Avenida gardens, crowned by the Esigueiro (granary), the housing heritage, the Mansillas House and the Arcã House.
The Municipal Library itself, the swimming pool and the Pousada Barão de Forrester, the Cooperative Cellar of Alijó, where you can see how Port Wine is made, and taste a Port or a Muscatel from Alijó, a Vintage, or an high quality champagne.
About the entertainment in the main town, there is the Christmas bonfire in the street, the market days on the 15th and 24th of every month, the festivities held on the 15th of August, the feast of Santa Maria Maior with its ethnographic shows and a renewed experience of traditions.
A delight to see and experience.