Italy: Cinque Terre Part 8 - Manarola
Nov 1, 2023 13:57:15 #
The next town we approached on the ferry ride along the Ligurian Coast to Monterossa was Manarola.
Manarola (Manaea in the local dialect) is a small town, a frazione of the comune (municipality) of Riomaggiore, in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northern Italy. It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by tourists, with a population of 353.
Overview
Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1338. The local dialect is Manarolese, which is marginally different from the dialects in the nearby area. The name "Manarola" is probably a dialectical evolution of the Latin, " Magna rota". In the Manarolese dialect, this was changed to "Magna roea" which means "large wheel", about the mill wheel in the town.
Manarola's primary industries have traditionally been fishing and wine-making. The local wine, called Sciacchetrà, is especially renowned; references from Roman writings mention the high quality of the wine produced in the region. In recent years, Manarola and its neighboring towns have become popular tourist destinations, particularly in the summer months. Tourist attractions in the region include a famous walking trail between Manarola and Riomaggiore (called Via dell'Amore, "Love's Trail") and hiking trails in the hills and vineyards above the town. Manarola is one of the five villages of the Cinque Terre. Most of the houses are bright and colourful. Manarola was celebrated in paintings by Antonio Discovolo (1874–1956).
Since 1961, during the Christmas season, an evocative luminous nativity scene has been set up on the hill overlooking the village, whose characters, handcrafted by Mario Andreoli, a retired railwayman, are made up of thousands and thousands of lights on special templates that give the representation a unique charm in the world. Andreoli built the original nucleus of the crib figures, of what was consecrated in 2007 as the largest nativity scene in the world. The statues were made with recycled materials. The lighting of the luminous nativity scene takes place every year on December 8.
In the days before December 8, 2022, the date on which the Nativity scene was lit, Andreoli had requested that the fireworks be made, an event not foreseen in recent years. On 22 December 2022, Andreoli died at the age of 94. His work in the creation of the crib, its preparation and conservation will be managed and preserved by the association that takes his name, established on November 2, 2017.
Via Crucis
In addition to the famous crib, during the Easter period, Andreoli created a luminous Via Crucis on the same hill.
Festa di San Lorenzo
While for the Festa di San Lorenzo, Andreoli created a luminous representation of the saint on the grill, place of martyrdom.
In popular culture
Like its fellow Cinque Terre town of Riomaggiore, it was featured in the video game Forza Horizon 2. Manarola was not featured as the main location but was referenced on various road signs.
The Cinque Terre towns, Manarola included, are the inspiration for the town of Portorosso in the 2021 animated film Luca.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manarola
CINQUE TERRE – MANAROLA, THE OLDEST OF THE FIVE
Romantic Manarola – a hamlet of Riomaggiore – spills down a ravine to the wild and rugged Cinque Terre coastline. Besides its natural beauty, the village is also famous for its sweet Sciacchetrà wine, celebrated by Gabriele D'Annunzio in one of his amazing poems. Manarola has brightly painted houses, priceless medieval relics and a tiny harbour that features a boat ramp and a swimming hole; to the north, on the way to Corniglia, there's a stunning viewpoint (Punta Bonfiglio) where visitors can enjoy a drink in a bar between the village’s cemetery and the sea. Everywhere is the scent of the lemon trees, thyme, rosemary and Mediterranean maquis; the grapevines – grown on terraces – embrace the village in a tight hug.
A little bit of history
Built at the mouth of the Volastra Creek, Manarola (Manaea in the local dialect) seems to be the oldest of the Cinque Terre villages. Although probably founded in Roman times, the present settlement dates back to the end of the 12th century, when the inhabitants of Volastra – ancient Vicus Olestre – descended from the hills in order to exploit the natural resources of the sea. Like the other Cinque Terre villages – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia and Riomaggiore – Manarola grew under the Republic of Genoa and experienced a development which was largely ichthyic and agricultural; Sciacchetrà – the delicious local wine – has been renowned for its quality since the Roman age and, although now produced everywhere in the area, it has its origins in this village. Important families in the history of Manarola were the lords of Carpena and the Fieschis, the latter family ruled over the village until 1276, when Genoa officially took possession of it. In order to protect Manarola against the frequent Saracen attacks, the Genoese almost certainly reinforced the preexisting castle; however, after several incursions, the castle was destroyed and sadly, very little remains of it. In recent times, the village has become a popular tourist destination, particularly during the Summer months.
Things to see and do in Manarola
Supposing you arrive in the morning, we suggest you start your tour on the main square – Piazza Papa Innocenzo IV – located in the high part of the village. Literally embraced by luxuriant vineyards, this simple piazza houses Manarola’s most important buildings: the Oratorio dei Disciplinati, the Church of San Lorenzo and a freestanding campanile built on the ruins of a preexisting watchtower. If you happen to be here around Christmas (from December 8th to the last week of January), you will also discover that the village’s main square is the ideal location to admire Mario Andreoli’s lighted outdoor nativity scene, probably the undisputed highlight of Manarola. This unique Christmas installation is set up amid the vineyards and occupies the top of a hill; with its 300 characters made out of reclaimed materials and illuminated by 15.000 bulbs, it is the biggest in the world and makes the village even more magical.
The lower part of Manarola is a maze of narrow cobbled streets and charming alleyways home to cute little eateries and inviting craft shops. Before plunging into the refreshing water of the harbour, look for the old watermill and explore the last stretch of Via Belvedere, basically a balcony overlooking the blue sea. Manarola doesn’t have a real beach but offers the best deep-water swimming in the Cinque Terre region; so, if you like snorkeling or are an adventurous swimmer, we bet that you will love to spend some time at the marina. Should you prefer other activities, such as hiking or walking, the village boasts beautiful hiking trails in the surrounding hills and a romantic walking path named Via dell’Amore that connects Manarola with nearby Riomaggiore. On a visit to the village, don’t forget to try its succulent seafood caught by the local fishermen off the coast and immediately drop off at restaurants.
Manarola can be comfortably reached by train from La Spezia or Levanto and the local train station is also very well connected to the other Cinque Terre villages, Genoa, Pisa, Turin and Milan. If you are visiting Florence or Milan and you feel like going on a group tour to Manarola and Cinque Terre, we do offer the following options: day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre private tour from Florence and a day trip from Milan to Cinque Terre.
https://www.ciaoflorence.it/en/page/57?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw7oeqBhBwEiwALyHLMyh7AISUuwlh6Qqpnz15Wfi0OtyWR3lcaceXGRVlwV5gGVR9eBVTWhoC_ZMQAvD_BwE
For additional images from the drive through La Spezia and Porto Venere as well as images from the ferry ride, please see my previous posts:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-789349-1.html#14224070
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-789440-1.html#14226109
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-789648-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-789843-1.html#14233553
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-789942-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-790111-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-790407-1.html#14245176
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-790582-1.html
I hope you enjoy these!
Mark
Manarola (Manaea in the local dialect) is a small town, a frazione of the comune (municipality) of Riomaggiore, in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northern Italy. It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by tourists, with a population of 353.
Overview
Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1338. The local dialect is Manarolese, which is marginally different from the dialects in the nearby area. The name "Manarola" is probably a dialectical evolution of the Latin, " Magna rota". In the Manarolese dialect, this was changed to "Magna roea" which means "large wheel", about the mill wheel in the town.
Manarola's primary industries have traditionally been fishing and wine-making. The local wine, called Sciacchetrà, is especially renowned; references from Roman writings mention the high quality of the wine produced in the region. In recent years, Manarola and its neighboring towns have become popular tourist destinations, particularly in the summer months. Tourist attractions in the region include a famous walking trail between Manarola and Riomaggiore (called Via dell'Amore, "Love's Trail") and hiking trails in the hills and vineyards above the town. Manarola is one of the five villages of the Cinque Terre. Most of the houses are bright and colourful. Manarola was celebrated in paintings by Antonio Discovolo (1874–1956).
Since 1961, during the Christmas season, an evocative luminous nativity scene has been set up on the hill overlooking the village, whose characters, handcrafted by Mario Andreoli, a retired railwayman, are made up of thousands and thousands of lights on special templates that give the representation a unique charm in the world. Andreoli built the original nucleus of the crib figures, of what was consecrated in 2007 as the largest nativity scene in the world. The statues were made with recycled materials. The lighting of the luminous nativity scene takes place every year on December 8.
In the days before December 8, 2022, the date on which the Nativity scene was lit, Andreoli had requested that the fireworks be made, an event not foreseen in recent years. On 22 December 2022, Andreoli died at the age of 94. His work in the creation of the crib, its preparation and conservation will be managed and preserved by the association that takes his name, established on November 2, 2017.
Via Crucis
In addition to the famous crib, during the Easter period, Andreoli created a luminous Via Crucis on the same hill.
Festa di San Lorenzo
While for the Festa di San Lorenzo, Andreoli created a luminous representation of the saint on the grill, place of martyrdom.
In popular culture
Like its fellow Cinque Terre town of Riomaggiore, it was featured in the video game Forza Horizon 2. Manarola was not featured as the main location but was referenced on various road signs.
The Cinque Terre towns, Manarola included, are the inspiration for the town of Portorosso in the 2021 animated film Luca.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manarola
CINQUE TERRE – MANAROLA, THE OLDEST OF THE FIVE
Romantic Manarola – a hamlet of Riomaggiore – spills down a ravine to the wild and rugged Cinque Terre coastline. Besides its natural beauty, the village is also famous for its sweet Sciacchetrà wine, celebrated by Gabriele D'Annunzio in one of his amazing poems. Manarola has brightly painted houses, priceless medieval relics and a tiny harbour that features a boat ramp and a swimming hole; to the north, on the way to Corniglia, there's a stunning viewpoint (Punta Bonfiglio) where visitors can enjoy a drink in a bar between the village’s cemetery and the sea. Everywhere is the scent of the lemon trees, thyme, rosemary and Mediterranean maquis; the grapevines – grown on terraces – embrace the village in a tight hug.
A little bit of history
Built at the mouth of the Volastra Creek, Manarola (Manaea in the local dialect) seems to be the oldest of the Cinque Terre villages. Although probably founded in Roman times, the present settlement dates back to the end of the 12th century, when the inhabitants of Volastra – ancient Vicus Olestre – descended from the hills in order to exploit the natural resources of the sea. Like the other Cinque Terre villages – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia and Riomaggiore – Manarola grew under the Republic of Genoa and experienced a development which was largely ichthyic and agricultural; Sciacchetrà – the delicious local wine – has been renowned for its quality since the Roman age and, although now produced everywhere in the area, it has its origins in this village. Important families in the history of Manarola were the lords of Carpena and the Fieschis, the latter family ruled over the village until 1276, when Genoa officially took possession of it. In order to protect Manarola against the frequent Saracen attacks, the Genoese almost certainly reinforced the preexisting castle; however, after several incursions, the castle was destroyed and sadly, very little remains of it. In recent times, the village has become a popular tourist destination, particularly during the Summer months.
Things to see and do in Manarola
Supposing you arrive in the morning, we suggest you start your tour on the main square – Piazza Papa Innocenzo IV – located in the high part of the village. Literally embraced by luxuriant vineyards, this simple piazza houses Manarola’s most important buildings: the Oratorio dei Disciplinati, the Church of San Lorenzo and a freestanding campanile built on the ruins of a preexisting watchtower. If you happen to be here around Christmas (from December 8th to the last week of January), you will also discover that the village’s main square is the ideal location to admire Mario Andreoli’s lighted outdoor nativity scene, probably the undisputed highlight of Manarola. This unique Christmas installation is set up amid the vineyards and occupies the top of a hill; with its 300 characters made out of reclaimed materials and illuminated by 15.000 bulbs, it is the biggest in the world and makes the village even more magical.
The lower part of Manarola is a maze of narrow cobbled streets and charming alleyways home to cute little eateries and inviting craft shops. Before plunging into the refreshing water of the harbour, look for the old watermill and explore the last stretch of Via Belvedere, basically a balcony overlooking the blue sea. Manarola doesn’t have a real beach but offers the best deep-water swimming in the Cinque Terre region; so, if you like snorkeling or are an adventurous swimmer, we bet that you will love to spend some time at the marina. Should you prefer other activities, such as hiking or walking, the village boasts beautiful hiking trails in the surrounding hills and a romantic walking path named Via dell’Amore that connects Manarola with nearby Riomaggiore. On a visit to the village, don’t forget to try its succulent seafood caught by the local fishermen off the coast and immediately drop off at restaurants.
Manarola can be comfortably reached by train from La Spezia or Levanto and the local train station is also very well connected to the other Cinque Terre villages, Genoa, Pisa, Turin and Milan. If you are visiting Florence or Milan and you feel like going on a group tour to Manarola and Cinque Terre, we do offer the following options: day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre private tour from Florence and a day trip from Milan to Cinque Terre.
https://www.ciaoflorence.it/en/page/57?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw7oeqBhBwEiwALyHLMyh7AISUuwlh6Qqpnz15Wfi0OtyWR3lcaceXGRVlwV5gGVR9eBVTWhoC_ZMQAvD_BwE
For additional images from the drive through La Spezia and Porto Venere as well as images from the ferry ride, please see my previous posts:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-789349-1.html#14224070
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-789440-1.html#14226109
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-789648-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-789843-1.html#14233553
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-789942-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-790111-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-790407-1.html#14245176
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-790582-1.html
I hope you enjoy these!
Mark
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A train on the way to Riomaggiore from Manarola
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The ferry landing
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Leaving Manarola
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Nov 1, 2023 13:58:14 #
Nov 1, 2023 14:36:49 #
Nov 1, 2023 14:47:58 #
NMGal wrote:
Rugged looking. Don’t think I would want to live there.
Nov 1, 2023 15:05:34 #
Beautiful, Mark. I just got to thinking that if ever the world as we know it ends, your documentation with photos and narratives could very nearly restore our knowledge of world history and geography.
Nov 1, 2023 16:10:20 #
srfmhg wrote:
The next town we approached on the ferry ride alon... (show quote)
Can't even imagine the experience of being in such a magnificent locale, let alone live there and see it on a daily basis
Tremendous shots 👑👑👑👑👑Nov 1, 2023 16:46:10 #
Nov 1, 2023 17:12:22 #
NMGal wrote:
Rugged looking. Don’t think I would want to live there.
I agree Barbara. Thanks for commenting. I think you'll like Monterosso which I'll post soon.
Nov 1, 2023 17:12:48 #
Nov 1, 2023 17:14:31 #
Nov 1, 2023 17:16:24 #
kpmac wrote:
Beautiful, Mark. I just got to thinking that if ever the world as we know it ends, your documentation with photos and narratives could very nearly restore our knowledge of world history and geography.
Thank you so much for your kind comments Ken. Despite being a biology major, my favorite subjects in college were history and fine arts. My oldest granddaughter, now 15, also loves history.
Nov 1, 2023 17:17:05 #
joecichjr wrote:
Can't even imagine the experience of being in such a magnificent locale, let alone live there and see it on a daily basis Tremendous shots 👑👑👑👑👑
Tremendous shots 👑👑👑👑👑Thank you so very much Joe.
Nov 1, 2023 17:19:37 #
UTMike wrote:
A wonderful combination of water, mountains and color, Mark!
Thank you so much Mike. It's really a beautiful place - especially seen from the water. We were fortunate to have great weather although I almost cried when I first saw the images since the towns were shrouded in haze.
Nov 1, 2023 17:20:07 #
Moondoggie wrote:
Mark, another series of spectacular photos.
Thank you so much Moondoggie.
Nov 1, 2023 18:48:39 #
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