Manarola village in Italy
Manarola is possibly the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre. A cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dates back to 1338. The local dialect is Manarolese, which differs from the surrounding dialects. The name "Manarola" is a dialectical development from the Latin "magna rota". In the Manarolese dialect this was changed to "magna roea" which means "big wheel", and refers to the millstone of the town.
Manarola's primary sources of income have traditionally been fishing and wine production. The local wine, Sciacchetrà, is well known and has been prized since Roman times. Recently, Manarola and its neighboring towns have become known as a tourist attraction, especially in summer. The hiking trail between Manarola and Riomaggiore is called Via dell'Amore, "path of love".
Eleon Jonker
