Veltheim, Switzerland
14th century
Holderbank, Switzerland
c. 1050
Rothenbrunnen, Switzerland
12th century
Burgistein, Switzerland
14th century
Untersiggenthal, Switzerland
1240
Wartau, Switzerland
c. 1225
Brugg, Switzerland
10th century
Gränichen, Switzerland
13th century
Grono, Switzerland
12th century
Trin, Switzerland
12th century
Meiringen, Switzerland
c. 1250
Weissenburg, Switzerland
13th century
Champvent, Switzerland
c. 1250
Bubikon, Switzerland
1190s
Signau, Switzerland
12th century
Lostorf, Switzerland
13th century
Haldenstein, Switzerland
10th century
Flims, Switzerland
10th century
Albula/Alvra, Switzerland
c. 1200
Luzein, Switzerland
12th century
Manarola is a small town, a frazione of the comune of Riomaggiore. It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by tourists, with a population of 353.
Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1338. The local dialect is Manarolese, which is marginally different from the dialects in the nearby area. The name 'Manarola' is probably a dialectical evolution of the Latin, 'magna rota'. In the Manarolese dialect this was changed to 'magna roea' which means 'large wheel', in reference to the mill wheel in the town.
Manarola's primary industries have traditionally been fishing and wine-making. The local wine, called Sciacchetrà, is especially renowned; references from Roman writings mention the high quality of the wine produced in the region.