Manarola
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 30 December 2023
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The gorgeous fishing port of Manarola is one of the five villages that make up the UNESCO World Heritage site of le Cinque Terre.
The village's knot of tiny, multi-coloured houses gripping on to the cliff for dear life, combined with the dazzling blue water of the sea below make for an unforgettable spectacle. With no cars allowed in the village, the best way to reach Manarola is by train either from the city of La Spezia to its east or from the seaside town of Levanto to its west. |
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Charming fishing village
Manarola shares a topographical characteristic with both Vernazza and Riomaggiore, two of the other four Cinque Terre, in so much as they all consist of a narrow, descending main street that ends up at the sea. In each village, you'll find high-sided buildings hemming-in the central thoroughfare on each side, lined with shops and restaurants.
At Manarola's tiny fishing port, a number of small vessels are moored up or tied up on dry land, covered in the distinctive blue and white striped jackets so typical of Liguria. During the summer months, this is the busiest part of the village where visitors stop to admire the views from the main balcony overlooking the bright blue sea.
From this busy intersection it's usually possible to follow the footpath north-west around the headland to the village of Corniglia although this is sometimes closed for a number of reasons. When open, the path called the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path), traverses Manarola and continues south-east to the next village along: Riomaggiore.
At Manarola's tiny fishing port, a number of small vessels are moored up or tied up on dry land, covered in the distinctive blue and white striped jackets so typical of Liguria. During the summer months, this is the busiest part of the village where visitors stop to admire the views from the main balcony overlooking the bright blue sea.
From this busy intersection it's usually possible to follow the footpath north-west around the headland to the village of Corniglia although this is sometimes closed for a number of reasons. When open, the path called the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path), traverses Manarola and continues south-east to the next village along: Riomaggiore.
Accommodation and travel
Apart from the larger beach resort of Monterosso al Mare at the western extremity of the Cinque Terre, there are very few accommodation options in each village and they are better-suited to day-trips.
These can easily be achieved from the larger towns nearby such as La Spezia and Levanto which sandwich the five villages to the east and west respectively. During the summer, ferries run to each village that has a port, the only one that doesn't being Corniglia. The ferries run not only from the aforementioned towns but also from further afield such as Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portovenere.
Another great option is to take the train; Manarola's train station is handily located in the town centre and the trains run frequently on a daily basis throughout the year.
From one village to another takes just a few minutes and you can buy a ticket that's valid for the whole day, hopping on and off where you choose. With the greater number of daylight hours available during the summer months, it's easily achievable to visit all five of the villages by train in a single day if you so wish.
These can easily be achieved from the larger towns nearby such as La Spezia and Levanto which sandwich the five villages to the east and west respectively. During the summer, ferries run to each village that has a port, the only one that doesn't being Corniglia. The ferries run not only from the aforementioned towns but also from further afield such as Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portovenere.
Another great option is to take the train; Manarola's train station is handily located in the town centre and the trains run frequently on a daily basis throughout the year.
From one village to another takes just a few minutes and you can buy a ticket that's valid for the whole day, hopping on and off where you choose. With the greater number of daylight hours available during the summer months, it's easily achievable to visit all five of the villages by train in a single day if you so wish.
Manarola - frazione di Riomaggiore
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Comune: Riomaggiore
Province: La Spezia Region: Liguria Highlights: fishing port, restaurants Close by: Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare Recommended accommodation: Hotel Marina Piccola |
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Portovenere, Cinque Terre and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)
Year: 1997
Portovenere, Cinque Terre and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)
Year: 1997
