Alijó: a splendid kingdom nearby

Alijó is a small village at 45 kilometres from the districts’ capital, Vila Real (20 to 25 minutes by car following the A4 motorway), in a region that Miguel Torga named “marvellous kingdom”: Trás-os-Montes.

Actually, there isn’t just a Trás-os-Montes, there are plenty of them. Those are the ones that form the so called “kingdom”.

The Douro region was classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2001. Let’s dive in a place where you can breathe in beauty. A land where the wine and wineries have a strong connection, sculpted hills and vineyards made by hand.

The Youth Hostel of Alijó is one of the most modern and it stays close to the centre of the village. Around the place, you can admire the stately houses of Távoras and the monumental Sycamore tree (considered a National Monument) planted on the demand of Viscount Ribeira in 1856. A tree with more than 160 years, despite the age, remains as beautiful as it can get.

While you walk through the village, you should know that the village used to be called Allyjoo. In the XII. century, this region was a border between the Arab and Christians. Later, it rose as a region of high nobility and bourgeoisie thanks to the Charter of D. Sancho, D. Afonso the third and, in 1514 at the Charter of El Rei Manuel the first which is in Torre de Moncorvo (village).

The population of the area is older than that and there are several clues that proves it, like forts, cave paintings (Pala Pinta) and Roman Roads.

Near the Hostel there are a few restaurants, like Pelourinho Restaurant where you can taste traditional food as the most appetizing roasted lamb, Portuguese stew, pork tripe, smoked meat. Gourmet restaurants are also available in here like Cêpa Torta. Don’t be full yet, you have to save a little space to taste the desserts: Cavaca, almonds covered with cream, “quinzinhos”, almond pudding, borrachão cake (cake covered in sweet wine), meatloaf, and the most amazing bread you’ll ever tasted cooked in Favaios. You can ask where you can buy the four cornered bread and who knows, maybe you can hear some stories about Salazar…

If you are in Alijó, it is mandatory to go to Favaios, which is next to Alijó (2 kilometres). A little further, you can visit the the place where the famous Moscatel wine is made. Make a reservation at Quinta da Avessada and you’ll have a spectacular afternoon. Guaranteed! Besides, you can also taste Moscatel Wine and see the whole process from the grape to the table. Talking about table, you can have diner here and who knows, you can be surprised by a theatre group that resembles some of the traditions of the area.

In Favaios, there is also the Bread Museum that joins the two treasures from there: bread and wine.

The day after, if the weather is nice and you have a car to your disposal, you must go down to the Douro River. There’s a road that leads to the railroad to Tua. In the way you’ll going to wish to stop a few times to admire the stunning landscapes, its exuberant colours specially in the autumn and rounded contours of the hills.

The old railway of Tua (considered one of the most beautiful in the world) is no longer available. A dam took place and the railway was submerged.

If you stay till the lunch time, go to “Calça Curta” restaurant, the place that attracts the people who want to try wild boar or river fish.

In the afternoon you can also go to the village of Miguel Torga, São Martinho de Anta a few kilometres from Alijó. You can see there the house where the writer lived and visit the place with his name on it which tells us his life and story.

If the time is not an issue, go to the viewpoint of São Lourenço de Galafura, that inspired Torga – and we can assure you it certainly is going to inspire you.