After being closed for 12 years due to a landslide that caused injuries to four foreigners, Italy’s famous ‘Path of Love’ has reopened. The one-kilometer walking trail, known as the most romantic walk in the world, allows locals to enjoy it from 8 am to 7 pm, while tourists can pay 15 euros for one-hour time slots starting in August. Extensive repairs costing an estimated 22 million euros were undertaken to restore the path that spans the Cinque Terre coastline, offering stunning Mediterranean Sea views and colorful architectural delights from Riomaggiore to Manarola. The path, also known as Via dell’Amore, winds around the five villages that make up the Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering picturesque views of the landscape and sea.
The Via dell’Amore was originally built during the modernization of the railway line between Genoa and La Spezia in the early 20th century. It was created to allow railroad workers to travel between Riomaggiore and Manarola while a tunnel was being constructed. Carved out of the hard rock face overhanging the sea, the path became a meeting place for lovers from the two towns, hence earning its romantic reputation. The recent restoration project involved enclosing the rocks above and below the pathway with steel mesh, planting 8,800 plants to strengthen the landscape, and installing a monitoring system to give warnings in advance about potential landslides. This helps ensure the safety of visitors while they enjoy the scenic beauty of the path.
Liguria’s Cinque Terre, home to the Via dell’Amore, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of five villages known for their colorful buildings set into cliffs by the sea. The area attracts around 2.4 million visitors annually who explore the surroundings by walking, boating, or cycling. In a bid to combat overtourism, the villages introduced fines of up to €275 for visitors causing obstructions by taking selfies or blocking traffic. Giovanni Toti, president of the Liguria Region, has emphasized that the Via dell’Amore is a precious asset for the region, not just for tourists. The reopening of the path offers a chance for both locals and visitors to appreciate and enjoy this iconic route once more.
The Via dell’Amore is just one part of the Sentiero Azzuro, or ‘Blue Path’, which is a popular hiking trail in Cinque Terre National Park connecting the five villages. Starting from Riomaggiore, the Blue Path traverses through Manarola, Corniglia, and Vernazza before reaching Monterosso al Mare, spanning a total of around 12 kilometers with a maximum altitude of roughly 200 meters in Vernazza. Divided into four sections, the entire route can be completed in about five hours, offering hikers spectacular views of the coastal landscape. The Via dell’Amore represents the initial segment of the Blue Path, allowing visitors to experience the romantic charm and natural beauty of the Cinque Terre coastline as they embark on a memorable hike through the picturesque setting.
