The Longos Vales's Monastery foundation is attributed to D. Afonso Henriques in the second half of the 12th century.
The only enduring element of the primitive medieval construction with its clearly Romanesque style is the main chapel, the remainder of the group was subjected to remodelling work when it passed into the hands of the Society of Jesus.
Nowadays, the monastery is private property, with the exception of the church which continues to be part of the parochial headquarters of the parish.
References: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.