Most beautiful towns in Italy: Manarola

Talk of most beautiful villages in Italy and Manarola It's almost redundant. Because this beautiful town belongs to the so-called Cinque Terre, five villas each more beautiful that cover a small coastal strip in the northwest of the country.

They are nothing more than five little seaside towns that seem to hang from vertiginous cliffs. They have also managed to preserve the charm of the rural and combine it with the best tourist attractions. Beautiful beaches, spectacular hiking trails and magnificent cuisine are the strengths of the Cinque Terre. And all this means that these villas offer you a different type of recreation than the monumental ones Roma, Venice o Florence. But, without further ado, let's talk to you of the most beautiful villages in Italy and ManarolaCourse.

The Cinque Terre, among the most beautiful villages in Italy

This group of small towns occupy a coastal strip of the province of La Spezia which covers about thirty kilometers between mesco point y Punta di Montenero. bathed by the MLigurian ar, forms, next to Portovenere and the islands of Tino, Tinetto and Palmaria, a geographical space declared Heritage.

The peculiar orographic characteristics of this area have contributed to increase its beauty. The mountainous foothills reach almost to the coast and descend to the sea, forming crop terraces with a pronounced slope. In turn, these singularities have led to the creation, as we told you, of beautiful hiking trails.

There is a wide network of roads on the coast. The most important is the Azurro Sentiero or Camino Azul, which joins the five towns in a journey of about five hours. But you can also enjoy Red road, which joins Portovenere with Levanto, or from Path of the Sanctuaries, which unites some of the area. All these routes are of low difficulty and offer you wonderful views of both the Ligurian coast and inland.

You can also get to know the Cinque Terre from the sea. A network of boats works throughout the year that connect these towns with each other and with others in the area. They also perform tourist routes. But it is time that we talk to you about these villas that appear in any catalog of the most beautiful towns in Italy and Manarola, of course.

Manarola

Located between the ligurian sea and Apuan Alps, which seem to push it into the water, is the oldest village in the Cinque Terre. This is attested by a stone from its church, which gives 1160 as the year of its foundation. Its landscape is spectacular, as it extends inland through a valley framed by two large rocky spurs. For it descends, in addition the groppo river until it empties into the sea. Parallel to this runs the most important street in the town, the Via di Mezzo.

Curiously, Manarola is so small that it doesn't even have a beach. However, you can take a wonderful bath in its small port or in the Palaedo jetty. And, after doing so, don't forget to ask for a glass of scciachetra, the native wine that has contributed to its fame.

On the other hand, you should visit in this town the church of San Lorenzo, a sample of Ligurian Gothic from the XNUMXth century. In it, it stands out, above all, its Carrara marble rose window. They are also interested in Oratory of the Disciplinati, XNUMXth century; the lazzareto o old Hospital de San Roco and the tower of San Lorenzo o Campanile. However, the most beautiful thing about Manarola is the set of its colored tower houses. But do not forget to go up to the viewpoints in the upper part to enjoy the sunset.

Monterroso al Mare

Attached to the tourist complex of fegina through a tunnel of several meters, Monterroso is the most populous of the towns that make up the Cinque Terre with about XNUMX inhabitants. In your case, it offers you three magnificent beaches. One is located in the aforementioned Fegina and is the most frequented by tourists. Another is in the same old town, near the port. And the third is Giant's Beach, named after the statue that presides over it. This is a representation of Neptuno which is fourteen meters high and is due to the architect Francesco Levacher and the sculptor Arrigo Minerbi.

On the other hand, in Monterroso you have to visit the church of San Juan Bautista, built between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. In the Genoese Gothic style, it stands out for its bands of white and green marble and its rose window. On the other hand, on the hill of San Cristóforo, you have the complex of Capuchin convent, which dates from the XNUMXth century and preserves beautiful paintings attributed to Van Dyck and Luca Cambiaso.

Next to it is the San Francisco church and, already in the center of town, you can see the oratories of Santa Croce, of the XVI, and of the Cofraternitá dei Neri Mortis et Orationis, of the XVII and baroque. Instead, going towards Fegina, you have the Aurora Tower, dating from the XNUMXth century and, next to it, an old bunker from the Second World War. Finally, above the town is the spectacular Sanctuary of Our Lady of Soviore, which already appears documented in 1220 and from which you have wonderful views of the Ligurian Sea.

Vernazza, like a postcard of the most beautiful towns in Italy

Preserved as an authentic fishing village, not even cars circulate through it. These remain in a parking lot at your entrance. Its main street runs to the coast covering the Vernazzolla stream and other alleys start from it that ascend between colored houses.

Its most important monument is the Church of Santa Margarita de Antioquia, patron saint of the town. It is a Romanesque temple from the XNUMXth century, although it was later renovated by introducing Baroque elements. Its spectacular forty-meter-high bell tower, its black stone columns and the tabernacle, which is Gothic from the XNUMXth century, will catch your eye.

A tower and part of the walls of the doria castle, which dates back to the XNUMXth century. Also, under this, you have the bastion belforte and, in the upper part of the town, the Convent of the Reformed Fathers of San Francisco, dated in the XVII. Finally, there is two beaches in Vernazza. One is in front of the aforementioned church of Santa Margarita, while the other, larger, is accessed through a small cave.

Corniglia

It is the smallest of these towns and is located in the heart of the Cinque Terre. In addition, it is the only one that does not directly access the sea, but is on a hill about a hundred meters high. In fact, the way to reach it is by a staircase of almost four hundred steps that has been baptized as lardarin. However, it also has a road.

Despite this, it offers you three beautiful beaches. The of the Corniglia Marina It is located in a small bay below the town. Instead, lo spiaggione it is located next to the railway station, on the way to Manarola. Finally, Guvano, which is the most photogenic in the region, is only accessible by sea. There is also a trail, but it is very dangerous.

The main street of Corniglia is called Via Fleschi. In this you have the St. Peter's Church, a Ligurian Gothic jewel built in the XNUMXth century, although Baroque elements were later introduced. You should also visit the san bernardino sanctuary, which is dedicated to Our Lady of Graces and to which the procession takes place on the eighth of September.

Riomaggiore

The easternmost village of the Cinque Terre takes its name from the fact that it is located in the valley of the river Maggiore. Precisely, their houses run parallel to it at different levels of altitude. However, it has a more modern neighborhood near the railway station. Likewise, close to it, about five hundred meters away, is Its beach. But you also have Canneto's, much more rugged, since it is only accessible by sea.

El historic helmet of colored houses is, as in the previous towns, beautiful. Its monuments are in the upper part of the town. There you can see the church of San Juan Bautista, which dates from the XNUMXth century, although its neo-Gothic façade was rebuilt in the XNUMXth century after an earthquake. However, it kept the white Carrara marble rose window.

In turn, the riomaggiore castle, built in the XNUMXth century, preserves its walls and two large circular towers. Beside him is the San Rocco Oratory, from the XNUMXth century, and, below, that of Santa Maria Assunta, also called the Church of the Company, which dates from the XNUMXth century, although it houses a triptych from the XNUMXth century. Finally, going back to the hills, you have the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montenero, from which you have a wonderful view of the so-called Gulf of Poets.

In conclusion, Cinque Terre found in all catalogs of the most beautiful towns Italy and Manarola It is perhaps the most famous of its villas. If you want to enjoy the Ligurian coast and in the north of the country, this region of the province of La Spezia it is a must see. Go ahead and meet her, you will not regret it.