Menarola is again part of the commune of Gordona.  For over 250 years, however, Menarola was a commune in its own right with its own town hall , mayor and elected council and own administration.

History goes full circle. Menarola had been part of Gordona but gained its autonomy in 1756. It was always a small commune but in the late 19th century had over 400 inhabitants. By 2015 it had under 50 inhabitants, and was one of the smallest communes in population in the whole of Italy. In that year it voted  by referendum to merge again with Gordona. The merger was approved by Gordona and by the other relevant authorities and Menarola  became part of Gordona at the end of 2015.

The territory of Menarola climbs up the western flanks of the Valchiavenna. Its lowest part is  around 300 metres above sea level on the first slopes above the valley floor, which it never, however, touches,  From here it rises all the way to the border with Switzerland, with the Forcola pass at over 2200 metres and the surrounding peaks up to 2600 metres. In between, the territory of Menarola contains a wide range of  natural environments from the terraced vineyards and small fields on the lower slopes, to the old and splendid chestnut forests, to  forests of birch and larch  and then up to alpine meadows, rocks and snow. Menarola is a small, vertical world,  with different resources at different altitudes and with a great range of climates. Its inhabitants thus used to move from level to level, following the rhythms of the seasons and the old ways of transhumance.

The former commune of Menarola was indeed small-too small to survive economically- but it retains its fascination, through the beauty of its landscapes, its sunny and dry climate, and its constant and splendid views over the Valchiavenna. Menarola also holds on to certain traditions that link it to a more distant past, notably the Bautta of which it is justly proud.