C I N Q U E T E R R E | M A N A R O L A
We stayed in Manarola for 4 nights at a small and trendy , upscale 13 room hotel. Every evening we enjoyed a complimentary snack and a glass of prosecco on arrival, or free wine tastings to go along with a gorgeous viewpoint of the tiny and picturesque village with a tumble of buildings flowing down to the waterfront and the hillsides are blanketed with vineyards terraced along the hills, it didn't get any prettier. The next day we decided to do a little bit of Cinque Terre Trekking on our own and ventured out. We followed a simple wooden railing and enjoyed lemon groves and vineyards. Along the path, which is primarily flat, you'll get a close up look at the region's famous dry-stone walls and vineyards with dried heather thatches to protect the grapes from the southwest winds. The path passes a variety of simple wooden religious scenes, and a cemetery.
Below our Humble Hotel La Torretta.
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The Cemetary
Ever since Napoleon who was king of Italy in the early 1800's-decreed that cemeteries were health risks, Cinque Terre burial spots have been located outside the towns. The result: The dearly departed generally get first class sea views. In cemeteries like these, there's a hierarchy of four places to park your mortal remains: a graveyard, a spacious death condo, a mini bone-niche or the communal ossuary. Because of the tight space, a time limit is assigned to the first three options (although many older tombs are grandfathered in). Bones go into the ossuary in the middle of the chapel floor after about a generation. Traditionally, locals make weekly visits to loved ones here, often bringing flowers.
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