Manarola is situated between two steep rocky hills on the other side of Via dell'Amore. It has Roman origins (probably founded by Volastra villagers) and is characterized by the typical brightly painted tower-houses. The village is built along the covered Groppo stream, from which many small carugi depart, forming the tangle village's structure.

The gothic parish church was built in 1338 and is situated in the higher part of the village. There is a marina protected by two rock spurs. Another slipway (Palaedo) can be reached through a five minutes long path in the rocks.
Sheer rocks and a crystal-clear sea water make Manarola the most suitable place for those who want to see underwater Cinque Terre.

A curiosity: the white concrete pyramid over the village   is a trigonometric ship signal.