Manarola is the second-smallest of the five world-renowned villages that comprise the Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage site. Nestled along the rugged Italian Riviera in the Liguria region, it is perched on a 70-meter-high black rock foundation, creating a dramatic “vertical village” aesthetic where pastel-colored houses appear to defy gravity.
Often cited as the oldest of the five villages, Manarola’s history dates back to at least 1261. It was founded by inhabitants of the ancient hill village of Volastra, who moved toward the sea as the threat of Saracen pirate raids diminished. The name “Manarola” is believed to derive from the Latin magna roea (large wheel), a reference to the many watermills that once operated along the Rio Groppo stream.
I had seen an image of this location years ago and it was etched on my bucket list of locations to visit! While waiting for the golden hour light of sunset, there is a restaurant you can wait, have some great food and wine while taking in this spectacular view.
This image was captured as part of a an amazing 12 day trip to Italy. If you are interesting in an amazing Italian itinerary check out this blog post.