Soggiorna
One of the five villages, perhaps the most photographed
Manarola is one of the five villages that give their name to the Cinque Terre park, a UNESCO heritage site. The colorful houses cling to a rocky spur overlooking the sea, among the terraced vineyards that produce the local wine (Sciacchetrà and the DOC Cinque Terre whites). The village does not have a real sandy beach, but a small harbor among the rocks where fishermen still pull their boats ashore.
The viewpoint and the trails
Climbing towards the cemetery, the belvedere above the village offers one of the most famous views of the entire coast, often depicted in photographs of Cinque Terre: the colorful houses slope down towards the sea with the terraced vineyards in the background. Several trails connecting to the other villages of Cinque Terre and the inland area start from Manarola, managed by the National Park (some sections require payment with the Cinque Terre Card, necessary for access to the Park's trails).
The historic Via dell'Amore, the walkway perched over the sea between Manarola and Riomaggiore, has been closed several times due to landslides and reopened with restrictions: it is always advisable to check the updated opening status before departing, as conditions change over time.
How to get there
As with the other villages of Cinque Terre, the regional train from La Spezia or Levanto is the most practical way to reach Manarola: the station is in the heart of the village, and internal road traffic is very limited. Parking near the village is scarce and paid: many visitors choose to leave their car in La Spezia or Levanto and continue by train.