Vineyard Walk
In Manarola, head to the highest point of town where the bell tower is situated. About 50 feet or so (18 meters) below the San Lorenzo church you will find a wooden railing/fence indicating the start of the vineyard walk. As you ascend the hillside, you'll notice various vegetable gardens, grape vines, growing herbs and lemon trees. You can't help but admire the iconic colorful buildings and the view of the streets below.
As you continue along the wooden railing, you'll see endless rows of dry stone walls where some of the grapes and vines are growing. It's hard to believe this structure is part of the foundation of many homes in Italy. Eventually the landscape of rooftops, balconies, buildings and hills will transition to the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea. You will be in disbelief of how blue and crystal clear the water appears below. It's an absolute selfie moment.
Jackie and I are not avid hikers but we occasionally visit parks and trails during the warmer months. Some of our favorite sites in the greater Philadelphia region are Evansburg state park, the Schuykill River trail and Wissahickon Valley Park. We embrace the positive effects of nature on mental well being. It allows you to escape from your daily, busy routine and be present in a more calm, natural environment. Plus, it's another away to stay active and incorporate daily exercise.
Even if you are not the most physically fit individual, this 20 minute trail is relatively low in difficulty. Not only will your heart benefit from this easy hike, but your mind will appreciate the stellar views of the blue Mediterranean Sea, the classic multicolored buildings and green hillsides and dry stone-walls that make up Cinque Terre.
You will eventually come to a T-intersection. Make a right if you are traveling to the next Cinque Terre village, Corniglia. Most will turn left to begin the decent back into town. Some of the stoned steps can be uneven, so take caution. The last landmark on the trail is Punta Bonfiglio cemetery and park. Unfortunately the cemetery was closed during our hike in July 2018.
From what we read, in the 1800's Napoleon created burial sites (mausoleums) outside of the villages for health risk reasons. In the mausoleums, there are chambers of deceased family members with their photo, name, birthday and date of death. If the cemetery is closed, you can at least enjoy the playground and beautiful flowered gardens. There are picnic benches, water fountains and bathrooms...a real nice rest spot. Go down the last set of steps to return town.
Make sure you check the official website below for trail closures and updates on weather conditions.
Information
General admission: Free
Distance/Length of Time: 0.6 miles (1 km) / 20-30 mins
Website: http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Eindex.php
Address: Enter Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Manarola IT in Google Maps. Look for Trail 6P. Follow directions in this article, as 6P will take you to Riomaggiore.