There is a specific reason why we called our
property Alla Porta Rossa (At the Red Gate):
its name is not random, but it is a
due homage to the history of the
village.
During the XI century the
inhabitants of Volastra, the ancient
Vicus Olestre (the olive village),
came down from above to the sea,
where a small village, called now
Manarola, sprang up.
Some experts
think that the ancient name of
Manarola comes from Manium Arula,
the small temple dedicated to the
Dead, or Manium Aea, the
island of the Dead, while some others
reckon that it is from
A Manaea, a dialect
word, commonly used now, whose origins lie on Magna
Roea, a big water millstone.
Although the real derivation of the
name of Manarola is still uncertain,
we know for a fact that the original
kernel of the village rose on a
rocky spur dropping sheer to the sea.
Thanks to its singular and lucky
position, the naturally fortified
and sheltered village became more
and more important and its
population increased very quickly.
However, until the middle of the
XIII century, it remained suject to
Volastra as far as Nicoḷ Fieschi,
who did realize its strategic
importance, changed it into a big
castle. Over the centuries and for
the many invasions from pirates, who
always came in great numbers, this
castle was almost completly
destroyed.
Almost, but not completly, so
that what of this castle still
remains, is a very small part, which
has been restored by the Cappellini
Bordone family; today it is the cozy
romantic B&B Alla Porta Rossa, in
front of which you can see the ruins
of the old Porta Superiore
(the main entrance to the castle),
also called Porta Rossa.
