ABBONDANZA!

Manarola (Manaea in the local dialect) is a small ancient village, 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. It’s waterfront is considered part of the Italian Riviera.

Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating back to 1338. The local dialect is Manarolese, which is marginally different from the dialects in the nearby areas. The name “Manarola” is probably dialectical evolution of the Latin, “magna rota”. In the Manarolese dialect this was changed to “magna roea” which means “large wheel”, in reference to the mill wheel located 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.

Given its location on the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local Cinque Terre cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common local baked product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias- essentially it is a savoury and crunchy pancake made from a base of chick-pea flour.

The grapes of the Cinque Terre are used to produce two locally made wines. The eponymous Cinque Terre and the Sciachetrà are both made using Bosco, Albarola, and Vermentino grapes. Both wines are produced by the Cooperative Agricoltura di Cinque Terre (“Cinque Terre Agricultural Cooperative”), located between Manarola and Volastra. Other DOC producers are Forlini-Capellini, Walter de Batté, Buranco, Arrigoni. In addition to wines, other popular local drinks include grappa, a brandy made with the pomace left from winemaking, and limoncello, a sweet liqueur flavored with lemons.

Manarola is one of those places where no matter where you turn, you can capture a great photo. Our contributor had so many good images to select from, we found it quite difficult to select just one. Manarola is a peaceful and serene destination. As far as waterfront, there is plenty, however you won’t find actual beach front. Nonetheless, Manarola is a great place for dining, tanning, shopping, fishing, boating, and getting away from the busier lifestyle in areas just outside of here.

• Cinque Terre - Official Website