Alijó (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐliˈʒɔ] ⓘ) is a municipality in the Norte Region of Portugal, located in the district of Vila Real.

[2] There are several megalithic structures, dolmens and castros in Alijó evidencing the pre-historic occupation of the region by semi-nomadic tribes, dating back to the 10th century BC.

[3] The territory began to be slowly re-populated, with the new settlements founded around existing Roman castros, rustic villages and abandoned hereditary lands.

[5] During the monarch's era the entire family was executed and/or imprisoned for the attempted regicide of King Joseph, it what would later be called the Távora affair.

At the time the municipality included the parishes of Alijó, Granja, Presandães, Chã, Valdemir, Santa Eugénia, Casas da Serra, Carlão, Franzilhal, Safres, Castedo and Cotas.

[5] The Douro railway line was opened as far east as Pinhão in 1880, with a further eastwards extension to Tua in 1883 and eventually reaching the border with Spain in 1887.

[4] Characteristically rural, Alijó is marked by two distinct regions: the north, terra fria (cold lands) is primarily forested or mountainous, while the south, is composed of rocky escarpments and river-valleys typical of the other municipalities in the Douro region, referred to as the terra quente (hot lands).

[4] The brush and small plants in the area include: lavender, camomile (Matricaria chamomilla), legumes (Genista tridentata), ferns, honeysuckle, mimosa, strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), rosemary, blackberry, gorse, tree heath (Erica arborea), heather (Ericaceae) and common mullein (Verbascum thapsus).

The area is known for a diverse forging and prey species, including rabbit, wolf, wild boar, fox and badger; migratory and endemic birds, such as bee-eaters, tit, owl, cuckoo, lark, Eurasian jay, common blackbird, lesser kestrel, red-legged partridge, European goldfinch, stock doves, hoopoe, dove (Streptopelia), typical warbler and nightingale; while the rivers are stocked with eel, carp and trout.

[4] Generally, the rural municipality falls within the Douro DOC, is essentially agricultural in economic activity with some small commerce.