After being closed for 12 years following a landslide that injured four foreigners, Italy’s famous ‘Path of Love’ has reopened. The one-kilometre trail in Cinque Terre, known as the most romantic walk in the world, can now be enjoyed by locals from 8 am to 7 pm, with tourists able to pay 15 euros to book one-hour time slots in August. The restoration project cost 22 million euros and includes steel mesh to prevent landslides and a monitoring system.
The Via dell’Amore winds around the Cinque Terre coastline, offering stunning views of the landscape and sea. Legend has it that it became a meeting place for lovers from the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola. The reopening of the path aims to alleviate overtourism in the picturesque region, which sees around 2.4 million visitors annually.
Giovanni Toti, president of the Liguria Region, has expressed pride in the reopening of the Via dell’Amore, calling it a “jewel for our region.” The trail is part of the Sentiero Azzuro, or ‘Blue Path’, which connects the five villages of Cinque Terre. The entire route is around 12 kilometres long, reaching a maximum altitude of roughly 200 metres in Vernazza.
Visitors can walk the whole path in about five hours, with the Via dell’Amore being the first section. The restored pathway offers a romantic and scenic experience for tourists and locals alike, providing a safe and picturesque way to explore the beauty of the Cinque Terre coastline.
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