Manarola Italy what to see: buildings, vegetation, vineyards, and wine tasting The first land we’ll reach is Manarola, a tiny jewel that does not have any equal in Italy or worldwide. This place takes its name from the oil mill, underlining the importance of an excellent production still made here by farmers that are real heroes. Olives and extra virgin olive oil produced here are full of smell and taste coming from the sea (that is really close) and the sun, who keeps those lands warm even in the coldest winter. From an architectural point of view, Manarola is a small town showing a unique kind of Genoese style colored buildings, called ‘case-torri’ (house-towers). They rely on a big rock close to the sea, one next to the other, showing their unique pastel colors. Together with the lush vegetation of the Mediterranean coastal area, they form a unique charming landscape. A view framed by vineyards, a view that you’ll be able to capture comfortably on photos, having the possibility to show this spectacular scenery when you’ll be back at home. Manarola is also rich in art and history. San Rocco Hospital and the Oratorio dei Disciplinati are worth the visit. Then, in the upper part of the village you can visit the Gothic Church of San Lorenzo (1338) and its Baroque interiors. Here also relies the Torre Campanaria. The white bell tower, unusually separated from the church, offers a wonderful panorama sweeping down to the sea.