Category Archives: Cinque Terre

Exploring Manarola, (Cinque Terre) Italy

Manarola, Italy, is a cliffside village in the province of La Spezia in the Liguria region of Northern Italy.  To situate the location, it is in the general area of Genoa, Pisa, and Florence. It is part of five (5) similar villages that form what is known as Cinque Terre, or “Five Lands”.  These are: Manarola, Monterossa, Vernazza, Corniglia, and Riomaggiore. The villages have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I have visited three (3) of these charming Italian villages and today I am focusing my blog post on Manarola.

Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy

These villages are small and you won’t find vehicles in the streets  of Manarola so parking is outside the villages which you reach by foot if arriving in the area by vehicle. The only mode of transportation you are likely to see parked inside Manarola are little boats that the locals haul down the hill to the water.

Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy

You can also reach the villages by train or by boat. Yes, even the train runs alongside the craggy cliffs.

Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy

If you are up for some hiking, there are paths connecting the villages. One such path is shown to the right in the photo below. Moving in, around, and about these villages is on rough, uneven terrain so make sure you wear sturdy, comfortable footwear and come prepared for some strenuous walking.

Cinque Terre, Italy
Pathway along cliff in Manarola, Italy

We arrived by bus and, on the outskirts of Manarola, we came across some local grape harvesting.

Grape Harvesting in Cinque Terre, Italy
Grape Harvesting near Manarola, Italy

The Manarola area is known for its sweet Sciacchetrà wine and many of the vineyards are still family-owned.

Grape Harvesting Near Manarola, Italy
Grape Harvesting Near Manarola, Italy

Several of the vineyards are terraced as can be seen in the photo below.

Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy

Some local fishing along with grape-growing, olive production and, of course, tourism, are the primary industries in this region.  Be prepared to share the villages with many other people who visit this area. The villages can be quite crowded, especially during the peak tourism periods of spring, summer, and fall. I visited Manarola on a Sunday in September and it was quite crowded, even quite early in the morning.

Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy

It’s easy to see why tourists gravitate to these quaint seaside villages which are often characterized by their bright colorful houses built on the sides of steep cliffs.

Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy

The colors of the houses are what one thinks of when associating colors with the Mediterranean.

Cinque Terre
Architecture and Color in Manarola, Italy
Manarola, Italy
Mediterranean Architecture and Color
Italian Shutters
Italian Shutters
Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy
Manarola, Italy
Quintessential Manarola, Italy

The famous bell tower in Manarola.

Cinque Terre
Bell Tower, Manarola, Italy

Be prepared to climb steep steps through narrow alleyways to get around Manarola.

Cinque Terre
Narrow Alleyway in Manarola, Italy
Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy

Some of the most beautiful scenery in the world can be found in Cinque Terre – “Five Lands”.

Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy
Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy
Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy
Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy
Cinque Terre
The Craggy Cliffs of Manarola, Italy
Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of Manarola, one of the five (5) Cinque Terre villages in Italy.

Cinque Terre
Manarola, Italy

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Cinque Terre, Italy
Manarola, Italy