Manolo is one of the first Italian free climber who became world-famous very young for his free solo ascents in the Dolomites. He is the first Italian ever to climb a route of the grade 8b (l'Ultimo Movimento in Totoga (Pale di San Martino)) in 1986 and of grade 8a in free solo on Masala Dosa on the wall of San Silvestro in 1992. He never took part to climbing competitions and contests.