Sep. 18 part 2 Riomaggiore

The third village visited on Sep. 18 was the southmost one of Riomaggiore.  It is another 5 minutes down the tracks from Manarola, and we put this in separate brief blog so as to not mix up the pictures. Unfortunately, as I review the last blog, we’ve already confused some.

Like the two previous villages, Riomaggiore was like a post card from every angle, and fortunately was not lacking in gelato. We found that it was entirely possible to do another hilly walk within the town, which of course, we did before discovering there was a better route to and from the train station.  Oh well.

After finishing up our afternoon, we climbed back aboard the train (they show up about every 20 minutes) and returned to Manarola, where we had an appointment for a wine tasting that was included in our tour package.  

The wine tasting was a very intimate experience with only 5 couples attending.  Our host was a diminutive Italian man whose English was enthusiastic but hard to understand.  We were able to gather that he was proudly carrying on a business started by his grandfather, and he presented a large photo of the founder along with a 1958 bottle of his vintage wine (no, that one was not part of the tasting).  Over the course of the evening, we were provided with a generous amount of wine to taste, and so many regional appetizers that we didn’t have room for dinner.  Bonus!

Then we were back on the train for the return ride to Levanto where we managed to take a wrong fork in the path walking back to our hotel, making the experience somewhat longer than necessary. 

Did I mention that it’s an uphill walk?  Aaargh!



Riomaggiore, population under 1500 persons


The port of Riomaggiore

The primary industry of this area is fishing, wine making and of course, tourism.
There are more tourists than residents in Riomaggiore most days.

Every port has a chapel to bless the fishers as they make their way out to the Ligurian sea.
Given the steep slopes of the vineyards in this region, I hope they bless the grape growers too!!!

Back to Manarola for wine tasting at La cantina dello Zio Bramante

A bottle of wine produced by this man's grandfather in 1958
It was a very good year!

La cantina


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