Einsiedlerhaus is a historic building with an adjoint garden which is part of the former town wall of Rapperswil. Situated on the shore of Zürichsee lake, Einsiedlerhaus is the eastern extension of the fortification of a neighbouring Capuchin friary.
The building was probably built in the 13th century, or maybe two centuries earlier. The Zürichsee lake shore area of Endingen was given by the Einsiedeln Abbey to the Counts of Rapperswil as a fief – the abbey is still owner of the land, including the area where the 16th-century Capuchin friary was built. That's why the building traditionally was named Einsiedlerhaus, meaning 'house of the Einsiedeln abbey'. The ferry station and wineyard was mentioned here in 981 AD.
Today Einsiedlerhaus hosts Haus der Musik, a youth music school.
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.