Manarola, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy

The five towns of the Cinque Terre are linked by an hourly train and the ride to the next one, Manarola, lasted only about two minutes.  I would have preferred to hike between the two but the trail has been closed due to flooding and washouts that make it too dangerous to be open to the public. This is the second town heading north of the five coastal towns in the Cinque Terre National Park. My post about the first town, Riomaggiore, can be seen at this link. The park includes the coastline, villages, and hillsides along this stretch of the northwestern Italian Riviera coastline in the Province of Liguria. For many centuries, the local people have lived by fishing the Ligurian Sea, and farming the steep terraces carved into the hillsides. Connected by a narrow winding road and narrow footpaths, the "Five Lands" (Cinque Terre) are popular with tourists and bring a boost to the local economies through tourism. 

Walking up and out of town rewarded me with this spectacular view.

Like Riomaggiore, the town of Manarola also has a small breakwater-protected harbor from which the fishermen can access the Ligurian Sea.

I don't think there was a single tourist without a camera at this beautiful spot. Some of the folks with me came back another day to make images during the before and after sunset hour when the lights were just coming on in town but the buildings and sea were still illuminated with the fading daylight. After seeing their results, I wish I had gone, too, even though their 30-second long exposures are a bit outside the realm of a point-and-shooter like me.

The houses are built and stacked on this impossibly steep hillside.  Note the terraced hillside planted with grapevines. Imagine transporting the building materials and construction equipment here - all done by hand. Not to mention the climb up and down the hill to work, or the store, or any of the dozens of daily activities of life.  No wonder all the locals seemed rather fit.

But not all are working.  These two young lovers lounge at the harbor soaking in the bright afternoon springtime sun....ah, young love, when passion is new and all things are possible....

....but the love of a long life shared is even better. Like these two residents who help each other up the steep main road through the village - perhaps mother and daughter or otherwise life-long friends.

As shadows grow longer, it's time to leave. Note the train station perched on the edge of the land. The tracks disappear quickly into tunnels carved into the mountains to emerge at the next of these wonderlands. It has been said that Italy is Disneyland for adults - I get it.