Italy's Cinque Terre 'Path of Love' reopens after 12-year closure

01.08.2024 - 07:34 / euronews.com

After 12 years of heartbreak, Italy's famous 'Path of Love' has reopened. Known as the most romantic walk in the world, the idyllic one-kilometre walking trail traversing the Cinque Terre coastline can now be enjoyed by locals from 8 am to 7 pm.

In August, tourists will be able to pay 15 euros to book one-hour time slots, capped at 30 travellers per session.

The path, massively popular with visitors, closed in 2012 after a landslide damaged the walkway and injured four foreigners.

What followed was a decade of extensive repairs, costing an estimated 22 million euros.

Now, hopeless romantics will be able to enjoy the visual splendour of Riomaggiore to Manarola, spanning dramatic Mediterranean Sea views to colourful architectural delights.

The 1 km-long route winds around a string of five villages that make up the Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Site. The paved pathway hugs the coast with stunning views of the landscape and sea.

It was built during the modernisation of the railway line between Genoa and La Spezia at the beginning of the 20th century. Railroad workers needed a way to get between Riomaggiore and Manarola while a tunnel was constructed.

The footpath was carved out of the hard rock face overhanging the sea, and legend has it that it became a meeting place for lovers from the two towns.

The restoration project has enclosed the rocks above and below the pathway with steel mesh and planted 8,800 plants to reinforce the landscape. A monitoring system has also been installed so that warnings can be given in advance about any potential landslides.

Liguria’s Cinque Terre is made up of five villages famous for their jewel-toned buildings set into the cliffs above the sea.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is surrounded by a national park, and around 2.4 million people visit every year to walk, boat, or cycle their way through the picturesque surroundings.

As one of the most famous stretches of the Cinque Terre coastline, the Via dell’Amore is massively popular with visitors.

The string of seaside villages has been battling against mass tourism, last year introducing fines of up to €275 for visitors that block traffic or pedestrians by lingering for selfies.

Giovanni Toti, president of the Liguria Region, has said that the Via dell’Amore is a “jewel for our region, not just for those who visit”.

The Via dell’Amore is one of four sections of the Sentiero Azzuro, or ‘Blue Path’. It is one of the most popular hiking trails in Cinque Terre National Park and connects the five villages.

The Blue Path starts from Riomaggiore, making its way to Monterosso al Mare through Manarola, Corniglia, and Vernazza.

The route is around 12 kilometres long and reaches a maximum altitude of roughly 200 metres in the tiny village